On Saturday night at Werner Park, the Lehigh Valley (34-25) took on the Omaha Storm Chasers (28-29) in game five of the series.
Bailey Falter (2-0, 1.10 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Storm Chasers started Carlos Hernandez (1-1, 4.96 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, the IronPigs struck first. IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall was up at-bat with a runner on third base. He doubled on a line drive to right field, scoring a run that putting Lehigh Valley up, 1-0.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fourth inning, the Storm Chasers tied the game on a solo home run by designated hitter Vinnie Pasquantino out to the Leonard Management McDonald’s Berm at right field, tying the game 1-1.
At the top of the fifth inning, the IronPigs took the lead. IronPigs’ left fielder Yairo Munoz was up at-bat with a runner on first base. He hit a two-run home run out to the left-center field, giving the IronPigs a 3-1 lead. It was Munoz’s third home run in two games.
An inning later, the IronPigs added another run. IronPigs’ designated hitter Will Toffey hit an opposite solo home run just over the left field fence, extending Lehigh Valley’s lead 4-1. After that home run, the IronPigs batters were quiet for the rest of the night.
The Storm Chasers would cut the IronPigs lead in half in the bottom of the seventh inning when their catcher Freddy Fermin singled over a leaping Scott Kingery and into right field, scoring a run that made it 4-2 IronPigs with one out.
IronPigs’ starter Bailey Falter finished the inning to get the last two outs. He did an outstanding job tonight, pitching seven innings, allowing four hits, two runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. Jonathan Hennigan took over him in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Michael Kelly took over for Hennigan in the bottom of the ninth inning. He put two runners on base before getting Storm Chasers’ designated hitter Vinnie Pasquantino to ground into a double play, while a runner went to third base.
Then, Kelly gave up a single to Storm Chasers’ catcher Freddy Fermin out to center field, making it a one-run game, 4-3. Kelly was taken out with two outs, and Jakob Hernandez came in to finish the game. He struck out Storm Chasers’ third baseman Clay Dungan, ending the game, and IronPigs held on to a 4-3 win. They have now won five of the last six games.
The win went to IronPigs’ starter Bailey Falter, his third of the season, and the loss went to Storm Chasers’ starter Carlos Hernandez (5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SO). Jakob Hernandez (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) earned his first save of the season for the IronPigs.
Jakob Hernandez is a reliable relief pitcher that should be closing games from here on out. He is now 1-0, with a 4.82 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 18.2 innings in 18 games.
The IronPigs close out the 12-game road trip tonight at 6:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
