For the second straight game on Thursday night at NBT Bank Stadium, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (40-35) blew a late inning lead against the Syracuse Mets (31-43) in an ugly loss.
Kent Emanuel (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Mets started Trevor Cahill (0-0, 4.70 ERA).
Before the game, first baseman Josh Ockimey and second baseman Ali Castillo were assigned to the IronPigs from the Reading Fightin’ Phils. Ockimey is batting .253 with nine home runs, 28 RBIs, two stolen bases, 33 runs, and 55 hits in 217 at-bat appearances.
Meanwhile, Ali Castillo is batting .245 with no home runs, 16 RBIs, three stolen bases, 26 runs, and 49 hits in 42 games. Castillo has been up with the IronPigs this season, batting .200 with no home runs, four RBIs, six hits, and eight runs in ten games.
IronPigs’ center fielder Dalton Guthrie started the top of the first inning with a walk before stealing second base. Then, IronPigs’ third baseman Will Toffey hit a two-run home run just over the right field wall for a 2-0 lead. Additionally, Dustin Peterson got a base hit before the Mets visited Trevor Cahill. Cahill came back to get IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey to ground out into a double play, followed by a fly-out from Jorge Bonifacio to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, IronPigs’ starter Kent Emanuel struck out Nick Plummer and Khalil Lee before giving up a solo home run to Mark Vientos that went into the Mets bullpen at left field, cutting Lehigh Valley’s lead 2-1. Two batters later, Emanuel got Travis Blankenhorn to ground out to retire the side.
Moving ahead to the top of the third inning, Will Toffey and Dustin Peterson grounded out, followed by a Josh Ockimey single. Then, Jorge Bonifacio hit a two-run home run off the scoreboard at left field for a 4-1 lead. Then, Daniel Robertson singled before Ali Castillo grounded into a forceout for the final out of the inning.
In the next two innings, Edgar Cabral and Daniel Robertson both hit home runs that extended Lehigh Valley’s lead 6-1. The IronPigs were in complete control of this game behind Kent Emanuel, who pitched a great game going six innings, allowing two hits, one run, no walks, and three strikeouts. Braeden Ogle replaced Emanuel in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Ogle gave up a single to Daniel Palka, struck out Travis Blankenhorn, and a fly out by Kramer Robertson for two outs. Then, Nick Meyer singled to right field in front of Dustin Peterson and a run scored, cutting the IronPigs’ lead 6-2. Gosuke Katoh flied out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, IronPigs manager Anthony Contreras put in Zach Warren instead of either Tyler Cyr or Jakob Hernandez. Those two pitchers are the perfect one-two punch combo to finish the games.
Zach Warren struck out Luke Ritter, followed by a Nick Plummer single. Next, Warren got Khalil Lee to ground out for the second out. Then, he walked Mark Vientos, followed by hitting Johneshwy Fargas, loading the bases. Then, he hit Travis Blankenhorn to walk in a run, and the game was now 6-3. Finally, Contreras pulled Warren for Johnathan Hennigan. Once again, not going to your best relief pitchers when the game is getting tight.
Hennigan walked Kramer Robertson, and it was now a two-run game, 6-4 still with the bases loaded. Then, Nick Meyer hit a ground-rule double that tied the game 6-6. Finally, Hennigan struck out Gosuke Katoh to end the inning.
Moving ahead to the tenth inning, the Mets started with a runner on second base. Nick Duron was the new IronPigs pitcher. Duron struck out Mark Vientos for the first out, then IronPigs manager Anthony Contreras signaled to walk two Mets players that loaded the bases. Finally, Duron walked Kramer Robertson, and the IronPigs lost 7-6.
This game gave the fans heartburn. You want the team to be put in the best possible position to win games. The manager’s decision-making was very much in question in this game. The IronPigs were ahead by five runs coming to the last couple of innings. Pitching was the issue; putting pitchers newly called up into situations that were better left to two guys who have proven they can finish games was a questionable move. Walking batters was another dubious move. Tyler Cyr and Jakob Hernandez should’ve finished the game. This should’ve been a win for the IronPigs. Instead, they are staring at a three-game losing streak.
The win went to Mets pitcher Eric Orze (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO), and the loss went to IronPigs pitcher Nick Duron (0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 SO).
The IronPigs will look to end the three-game losing streak tonight at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise at Fantatics.com.
