On Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (40-32) closed out their twelve-game homestand against the Norfolk Tides (34-38).
Ricardo Sanchez (1-3, 5.26 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while the Tides started D.L. Hall (1-2, 3.86 ERA).
Before the game, several transactions took place. First, Bryce Harper fractured his thumb Saturday night in San Diego, leading to the Phillies recalling Mickey Moniak.
In other moves, the IronPigs released relief pitcher Dillion Maples while adding LHP Jace Fry from Rochester (3-0, 3.77 ERA) and activated catcher Donny Sands, who’s been out with an injury and was in the lineup.
At the top of the first innings, IronPigs pitcher Ricardo Sanchez got Terrin Vavra to fly out for the initial out. Then, Jordan Westberg reached first base on a fielding error by Shortstop Daniel Robertson when the ball went underneath his glove.
This would be costly for the IronPigs as Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run opposite field home run into the IronPigs bullpen at left field for a 2-0 Norfolk lead. Then IronPigs’ starter Ricardo Sanchez retired the side when he struck out Kyle Stowers, and DJ Stewart flied out.
Moving ahead to the top of the second inning, Norfolk added more runs. First, Ricardo Sanchez walked Beau Taylor with one out, followed by a single to Davis Tavarez, putting runners on the corners. Then, Dylan Harris grounded out to shortstop Daniel Robertson, while another run scored, 3-0 with two outs. Finally, Terrin Vavra singled to right field, bringing home another run, 4-0, before Sanchez got Jordan Westburg to fly out that retired the side.
In the first two innings, the IronPigs batters only had two hits. Then, they woke up in the bottom of the third inning. IronPigs’ shortstop Daniel Robertson started the inning with a single, followed by a Dalton Guthrie double with no outs. After Drew Maggi struck out, catcher Donny Sands singled on a ground ball to center field, scoring both runners that cut Norfolk’s lead 4-2. A Darick Hall pop-out and a forceout by Rafael Marchan ended the inning.
The IronPigs batters started to connect in the bottom of the fourth inning. It began with back-to-back walks by Jorge Bonifacio and Scott Kingery. Two batters later, with one out, Dalton Guthrie hit a three-run home run just over the fence at left field to take a 5-4 lead. It was Guthrie’s third home run of the year. Then, D.L. Hall walked Drew Maggi and Donny Sands before Cameron Bishop replaced him.
Then, IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall doubled on a sharp line drive to right field that bounced off the glove of DJ Stewart and rolled to the warning track, adding another run, 6-4. Dustin Peterson was up next and cleared the bases with a three-run home run to the Capital Lawn area at left field, and it was 9-4 IronPigs with one out. However, Rafael Marchan’s flyout and a Jorge Bonifacio groundout ended the inning.
Meanwhile, IronPigs’ starter Ricardo Sanchez’s day was done after a rough couple of innings. He went five innings, allowing four hits, four runs, two walks, and three strikeouts in 76 pitches. Zach Warren took over for Sanchez at the top of the sixth inning. He pitched one inning, allowing one hit and one strikeout.
Jake Newberry was the new pitcher for the IronPigs at the top of the seventh inning. He got Beau Taylor to ground out, Davis Tavarez to fly out, and another ground out by Dylan Harris that ended the inning. The IronPigs would score their final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a Dalton Guthrie solo home run into the IronPigs’ bullpen at left field for a 10-4 lead. It was his second of the day and fourth of the year. Guthrie has eight RBIs and three home runs in the last two games.
Moving ahead to the top of the ninth inning, Tyler Cyr closed out the game for Lehigh Valley and got the last three outs to end the game. The IronPigs won 10-4 and the series.
The win went to IronPigs’ starter Ricardo Sanchez, his second of the season, and the loss went to D.L. Hall (3.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 5 BB, 2 SO).
The IronPigs start a six-game road trip on Tuesday against the Syracuse Mets at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
