On a rainy Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (37-31) blew not one but two leads they had in the game against the Norfolk Tides (33-35).
Cristopher Sanchez (1-0, 2.77 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Tides started Spencer Watkins (0-0, 4.05 ERA).
The IronPigs struck first in the bottom of the second inning. First, the Tides replaced starter Spencer Watkins with Bruce Zimmerman. Next, IronPigs’ left fielder Dustin Peterson started things with a double to left field. Then, IronPigs’ catcher Rafael Marchan doubled on a soft line drive towards the tarp at right field, scoring Peterson for a 1-0 lead.
Next, IronPigs’ third baseman Will Toffey hit an opposite field double that nearly went for a home run at left field, bringing Marchan home for a 2-0 lead with no outs. Two batters later, Zimmerman walked Daniel Robertson with one out, followed by an RBI single to center field by Drew Maggi, adding another run, 3-0.
During Mickey Moniak’s at-bat, the IronPigs scored another run on a balk by Bruce Zimmerman. He threw the ball three times to first base and didn’t realize he reached his limit at pickoff attempts, and Robertson walked home for a 4-0 lead. Moniak ended up striking out for the second out. Two batters later, IronPigs’ right fielder Dalton Guthrie singled to left field, adding another run, 5-0. Finally, Darick Hall grounded out to shortstop Gunner Henderson for the final out of the inning.
Meanwhile, Cristopher Sanchez had a great game. He was getting batters to chase out of the strike zone and gave up two hits in four innings. Sanchez was done after four innings, throwing 45 pitches, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks, and five strikeouts. He could’ve gone two or three more innings, and with what was about to happen, he should’ve stayed in the game.
Dillion Maples replaced Sanchez at the top of the fifth inning. He walked Jonathan Arauz, Anthony Bemboom, and Robert Neustrom, loading the bases for Tides’ left fielder Shed Long Jr. He singled on a fly ball as Dustin Peterson could not locate the ball, and two runs scored, cutting the IronPigs lead 5-2 with no outs.
In a panic move by IronPigs manager Anthony Contreras, he took Maples out and put Jakob Hernandez in. Hernandez should be the closer, and the IronPigs should’ve saved him for later on in the game.
Hernandez got Terrin Vavra to line out in a double play. Credit goes to Scott Kingery, who leaped up in the air to catch the ball and quickly threw to Daniel Robertson for two outs. Then, Hernandez struck out Jordan Westburg for the third out, ending the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, the Tides made it a two-run game. First, Aaron Barrett was the new IronPigs pitcher. He struck out Gunner Henderson and Jacob Nottingham before giving up back-to-back walks to DJ Stewart and Jonathan Arauz. Then, Barrett gave up an RBI single to Anthony Bemboom and a run scored, making it 5-3. Barrett recovered and struck out Robert Neustrom for the final out.
Moving ahead to the top of the eighth inning, the Tides tied the game. Jake Newberry was the new IronPigs pitcher. He gave up two walks and a single that loaded the bases for Tides’ second baseman, Jonathan Arauz. He singled to right field, scoring two runs that tied the game, 5-5, with no outs. Newberry was done, and Vineland, New Jersey, native Zach Warren replaced him. Warren was able to get the three outs to end the inning.
After scoring five runs in the second inning, the IronPigs batters were quiet, only getting four hits and one walk. Then, in the bottom of the eighth inning, the IronPigs got back the lead. Marcos Diplan was pitching for Norfolk. First, Diplan struck out Scott Kingery, followed by walking Daniel Robertson, hitting Drew Maggi, and giving up a single to Mickey Moniak that loaded the bases for Dalton Guthrie.
Then, Diplan walked Guthrie, and the IronPigs took a 6-5 lead. Finally, Diplan was done, and Morgan McSweeney was the new Tides’ pitcher. IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall had a chance to bust the game open, but he grounded into a double-play to retire the side.
At the top of the ninth inning, Braeden Ogle was the new IronPigs pitcher. However, he was missing the strike zone and was losing command of his pitches. He walked Terrin Vavra, then gave up a triple to Jordan Westburg, bringing in the tying run 6-6. Then, a sacrifice fly by Gunner Henderson put Norfolk up 7-6 with one out. Ogle struck out Jacob Nottingham for the second out and gave up a single to DJ Stewart before striking out Jonathan Arauz for the third out.
This should’ve been Jacob Hernandez’s spot. He has proven that he can close out games in the ninth inning. Morgan McSweeney closed out the game for the Tides in the bottom of the ninth inning. He got Dustin Peterson to fly out, then struck out Rafael Marchan for the second. Then, he walked Will Toffey. During Scott Kingery’s plate appearance, McSweeney went to pick off Toffey, and the ball got away from Jacob Nottingham, allowing Toffey to get to second base. Kingery singled on a soft ground ball to Tides’ shortstop Gunner Henderson, and there were runners on the corners for Daniel Robertson. Unfortunately, the final out came when Robertson flied out to center field, and the IronPigs lost 7-6.
The games are typically over when good teams score five runs or more. However, the IronPigs failed to protect not one but two leads and the handling of pitchers was atrocious. Taking out Sanchez was a mistake, and using Hernandez early instead of the ninth inning cost them. This should’ve been an IronPigs win. Instead, they add another loss to the column.
The win went to Tides’ pitcher Morgan McSweeney (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO), and the loss went to IronPigs’ pitcher Braeden Ogle (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 SO).
The series continues with game three tonight at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased at StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise at Fanatics.com.
