On Sunday afternoon at Truist Field, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs looked to take the series and sole possession of first place in the East Division against the Charlotte Knights.
Cristopher Sanchez (1-0, 2.25 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Knights started Davis Martin (3-2, 4.01 ERA).
IronPigs’ center fielder Dalton Guthrie was hit by Davis Martin to start the game. Guthrie was injured, and Scott Kingery took his place and played center field. Nick Maton was next to bat and doubled on a sharp line drive to right field, moving Kingery to third base for catcher Donny Sands. Sands singled to left field, scoring Kingery for a 1-0 lead. Then, IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Maton for a 2-0 lead.
IronPigs’ left fielder Chris Sharpe was next. He grounded towards Knights’ shortstop Lenyn Sosa, who tagged Sands out at second, but his throwing error allowed Sharpe to reach second base. Next, IronPigs’ third baseman Will Toffey walked, and Jorge Bonifacio struck out swinging that retired the side.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the sixth inning, IronPigs starter Cristopher Sanchez pitched a fantastic game. He went five innings, allowing four hits, no runs, no walks, and five strikeouts in 58 pitches. He could’ve gone one more inning. Instead, Ofreidy Gomez replaced him. Gomez struck out both Zach Remillard and Mark Payton. Then, he walked Yasmani Grandal before getting Adam Haseley to ground out towards Scott Kingery for the final out.
Brandon Finnegan was the new Knights pitcher to start the top of the seventh inning. He walked both Scott Kingery and Nick Maton for IronPigs catcher Donny Sands. Sands singled to center field that loaded the bases for IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey.
Facing a 2-2 count, Ockimey crushed a grand slam off the fence at right field, extending Lehigh Valley’s lead 6-0. IronPigs’ left fielder Chris Sharpe struck out swinging, but the ball got by Knights’ catcher Carlos Perez and Sharpe reached first base for a passed ball. This rule is known as a dropped third strike. Brandon Finnegan struck out Will Toffey and Jorge Bonifacio, then new pitcher Zach Muckenhirm struck out Drew Maggi, that retired the side.
Jeff Singer was the new IronPigs pitcher to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Ofreidy Gomez went one inning with no hits, no runs, one walk, and two strikeouts in 15 pitches. Jeff Singer walked Knights’ catcher Carlos Perez, followed by a fly-out from Lenyn Sosa and back-to-back strikeouts from Tyler Neslony and Laz Rivera.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the eighth inning, James Dykstra pitched for the IronPigs. Jeff Singer went one inning with no hits, no runs, one walk, and two strikeouts in 18 pitches. Dykstra gave up a double to Xavier Fernandez, followed by a fly-out to center field from Zach Remillard, moving Fernandez to third base. Then, Dykstra stuck out Mark Payton and walked Yasmani Grandal before throwing a wild pitch, scoring Fernandez. The IronPigs lead was now 6-1 IronPigs. After walking Adam Haseley, Dykstra got Knights’ catcher Carlos Perez to fly out that retired the side.
Jonathan Hennigan closed out the game for the IronPigs in the bottom of the ninth inning. He gave up a single to Lenyn Sosa before getting Tyler Neslony to ground towards Scott Kingery, who tagged Sosa out, but Neslony beat the throw. After Laz Rivera flied out, Xavier Fernandez hit a two-run home run into the seats in center field, cutting the IronPigs lead in half, 6-3.
Hennigan then gave up two straight singles and walked Yamani Grandal, loading the bases. That was it for Hennigan, and Jakob Hernandez came in. He struck out Adam Haseley, ending the game, and the IronPigs won 6-3, winning the series 4-2. The IronPigs are now in sole possession of first place heading into the All-Star break.
The IronPigs manager made the right call to put Jakob Hernandez (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) in when the game looked to be headed south. Hernandez earned his second save of the season.
The win went to IronPigs starter Cristopher Sanchez, his second of the season, and the loss went to Knights starter Davis Martin (4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 SO).
The IronPigs resumed their season at Coca-Cola Park on Friday against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
