On Thursday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs took on the Durham Bulls in game three, looking to get back in first place.
Michael Plassmeyer (2-1, 3.38 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while the Bulls started Kevin Herget (7-1, 2.23 ERA).
At the top of the third inning, IronPigs’ catcher Rafael Marchan started the inning with a double, followed by a fly-out from Scott Kingery, allowing Marchan to move to third base. Up next to bat for the IronPigs was second baseman Ali Castillo. Castillo drove Marchan home with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 1-0 lead with Mickey Moniak coming to bat. Moniak grounded out that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, IronPigs pitcher Michael Plassmeyer struck out David Rodriguez with Gran Witherspoon coming to the plate. Witherspoon hit a solo home run out to center field, tying the game 1-1. Joe Hudson was up next for the Bulls, and Plassmeyer struck him out swinging. After that, the rain picked up, and the game was delayed for 20 minutes.
When play resumed, Bulls’ center fielder Vidal Brujan hit a solo home run that Mickey Moniak nearly caught as the ball hit the yellow line at center field, putting Durham up 2-1. After Xavier Edwards singled, Jonathan Aranda lined out to IronPigs’ second baseman Jean Segura to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Bulls’ right fielder Ruben Cardenas hit a solo home run to center field, extending Durham’s lead 3-1. IronPigs pitcher Michael Plassmeyer got Tristian Gray to ground out to first baseman Will Toffey before walking Jim Haley. Plassmeyer got out of the inning on a fly out from David Rodriguez and a ground out from Grant Witherspoon.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the sixth inning, Mark Appel was the new IronPigs pitcher. Michael Plassmeyer went five innings, allowing five hits, three runs, one walk, and four strikeouts in 83 pitches.
Appel’s first batter was Bulls’ third baseman, Jonathan Aranda. Aranda hit a solo home run out to center field for a 4-1 lead. It was the fourth home run by the Bulls in the game. Appel got Ruben Cardenas to line out, followed by a fly out from Tristian Gray, and he struck out Jim Haley to end the inning.
At the top of the eighth inning, Phoenix Sanders was the new Bulls pitcher, and Dalton Guthrie was up first for the IronPigs. Guthrie hit the cow sign at left field, cutting the Bulls’ lead 4-2. It was Guthrie’s eighth home run of the season.
There is an interesting story about the Bull’s team. If a Bulls player hits the cow, they win a free steak from a local restaurant, and if they hit the grass, they win a free salad. If Guthrie were a member of the Bulls, he would’ve won a free steak dinner.
Will Toffey was up next, and he doubled to left field, followed by a pop-out from Chris Sharpe. IronPigs’ catcher Rafael Marchan was next, and he flied out to center field, with Scott Kingery coming to the plate. During Kingery’s plate appearance, Bulls pitcher Phoenix Sanders’ ball went past catcher Joe Hudson, allowing Toffey to go to third base.
Then, Kingery walked, and up next was Ali Castillo. Castillo singled on a high chop that Bulls’ second baseman Xavier Edwards could not get a grip of the ball, and everyone was safe, while the IronPigs made it a one-run game, 4-3. Then, Mickey Moniak was up to bat, but he struck out that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jace Fry replaced Mark Appel. Appel went 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, one run, no walks, and one strikeout in 21 pitches. Fry pitched 0.1 innings, allowing one hit, no runs, one walk, and one strikeout in ten pitches.
Moving to the bottom of the eighth inning, Nick Duron was the new IronPigs pitcher. He gave up a single to Ruben Cardenas, followed by hitting Tristian Gray. After getting Jim Haley out with a sacrifice bunt, Duron struck out Miles Mastrobuoni. Then, the IronPigs intently walked Grant Witherspoon before Duron walked Joe Hudson with the bases loaded, making it 5-3 Bulls. Finally, Duron struck out Vidal Brujan to end the inning.
Javy Guerra was the new Bulls pitcher to close out the game at the top of the ninth inning. He walked Scott Kingery with two outs before getting Ali Castillo to ground out, ending the game, and the IronPigs lost 5-3.
The IronPigs drop to third place with a 52-44 record, while the Bulls are tied with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for first place at 53-43.
The win went to Bull pitcher starter Kevin Herget, his eighth win of the year, while IronPigs starter Michael Plassmeyer took the loss, his second of the season.
The IronPigs will look to get back in the win column tonight at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
