On a cold and snowy Wednesday night, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (9-10) started a six-game series at PNC Field against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (8-10).
On Tuesday, the IronPigs and RailRiders game was rained out, and the game was rescheduled as a doubleheader on Friday.
Ricardo Sanchez (0-0, 5.79 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while the RailRiders started Hayden Wesneski (0-2, 1.38 ERA).
The action picked up in the bottom of the fourth inning. The IronPigs made a pitching change with Joe Gatto replacing Ricardo Sanchez. Sanchez pitched three innings, allowing one hit, no runs, three walks, and five strikeouts.
With a runner on third base, RailRiders’ left fielder Ender Inciarte singled on a ground ball toward third base. The ball hit the glove of Gatto, allowing Inciarte to reach first base and scored a run, putting the RailRiders up 1-0.
At the top of the fifth inning, the IronPigs took the lead. With a runner on first base, IronPigs’ second baseman Nick Maton hit a two-run home run out to right field, giving the IronPigs a 2-1.
Four batters later, the IronPigs had Drew Maggi on first base and Will Toffey on third base as right fielder John Andreoli was up at-bat with one out. Maggi attempted to steal second base but got caught in a rundown, allowing Toffey to steal home, and the IronPigs lead was 3-1. Andreoli struck out that ended the fifth inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the seventh inning with the bases loaded for the RailRiders, IronPigs’ pitcher Nick Duron walked center fielder Estevan Florial, walking in a run and the IronPigs lead was 3-2.
Clinging on to a one-run in the bottom of the ninth inning, the IronPigs sent Jeff Singer out to close the game. With runners on second and third base, RailRiders third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring a run that tied the game 3-3 with no outs.
Then, the IronPigs intentionally walked RailRiders center fielder Estevan Florial, loading the bases still with no outs. However, Singer walked RailRiders first baseman Greg Bird, giving the RailRiders a walk-off 4-3 win.
The win went to RailRiders relief pitcher Zach Greene (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO), and the loss went to IronPigs relief pitcher Jeff Singer (0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 0 SO).
Game two of the six-game series is tonight at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
