On Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (34-27) began a 12-game homestand starting with the Buffalo Bisons (34-26) on Tail Waggin’ Tuesday, where fans brought their dogs to the game.
Corey Oswalt (1-1, 5.68 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Bisons started Mike Ellenbest (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who was making his Triple-A debut.
At the top of the first inning, the Bisons took the lead with two outs. Bisons’ first baseman Zack Collins was up at-bat with runners on first and second base. He singled over IronPigs’ second baseman Dalton Guthrie, bringing home a run, 1-0. However, Oswalt got Bisons’ second baseman Samad Taylor to ground into a force out for the third out.
Oswalt settled down and made quick work in the next two innings. His night was done after three innings, allowing three hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts. Aaron Barrett took over for Oswalt at the top of the fourth inning.
Aaron Barrett made quick work of the Bison’s batters but only pitched one inning, not allowing a run, a hit, a walk, and no strikeouts. The IronPigs should’ve kept him in for another inning. No need to have a pitcher go out there for one inning and be done. You are just wasting arms that could be saved for the next game. James Marvel pitched at the top of the fifth inning. He walked two players and, with two outs, struck out Bisons’ left fielder Otto Lopez for the final out of the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, the Bisons added another run when center fielder Nathan Lukes hit a solo home run, hitting the yellow line at right field for a 2-0 lead. James Marvel came back and got the last three outs to end the inning.
The IronPigs batters were quiet in the first five innings. They had a couple of chances in the bottom of the second inning, and their best chance at tying the game came in the bottom of the third inning when IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall struck out with runners on the corners for the final out.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the IronPigs finally got on the board when center fielder Mickey Moniak crushed a solo home run out to the deep right field, cutting the Bisons’ lead, 2-1.
Moving ahead to the top of the eighth inning, the Bisons got the run back. IronPigs’ pitcher James Marvel got two outs but gave up two singles and was taken out of the game for Mark Appel. Then, Bisons’ first baseman Zack Collins reached first base on a fielding error by IronPigs’ shortstop Drew Maggi. The ball went off his glove, and he aggressively picked up the ball and threw it into the Bisons’ dugout. A run scored for Buffalo, and it was now 3-1.
The IronPigs made it a one-run game in the bottom of the eighth inning. IronPigs’ second baseman Dalton Guthrie was up at-bat with runners on the corners. Mickey Moniak took off to steal second base but got caught, while Drew Maggi scored from third base, making it 3-2 Buffalo.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the ninth inning, Adrian Hernandez closed out the game for the Bisons. First, he gave up a double to IronPigs’ catcher Rafael Marchan. Then, Ali Castillo came into pinch-run for him.
Then, Hernandez got left fielder Jorge Bonifacio to ground out for the first out, followed by walking IronPigs’ third baseman Will Toffey. Finally, Hernandez came back to strike out Dustin Peterson and Scott Kingery, ending the game. The IronPigs lost 3-2 and have now lost four straight games at home. They are now 11-14 at home this year.
The win went to Bisons’ relief pitcher Max Castillo (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO), while the loss went to IronPigs’ starter Corey Oswalt, his second loss of the season. Bisons’ closer Adrian Hernandez (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned his sixth save of the season.
Game two between the IronPigs and Bisons continues today at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
