On Tuesday afternoon, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs returned to Coca-Cola Park to begin a 12-game homestand starting with a six-game series against the Syracuse Mets. The IronPigs are 6-6 this year against the Mets.
Before the game, Mickey Moniak was called up to the Phillies Taxi Squad and is with them for a two-game series against the Atlanta Braves.
However, the Phillies traded Mickey Moniak and Threshers’ center fielder Jadiel Sanchez to the Los Angeles Angels for starter Noah Syndergaard. Dalton Guthrie played center field, and Johan Camargo returned to Lehigh Valley and played third base.
Ofreidy Gomez (0-0, 7.27 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while the Mets started Mike Montgomery (1-8, 6.75 ERA).
IronPigs pitcher Ofreidy Gomez started the top of the first inning by walking Mets’ third baseman Kamer Robertson with catcher Francisco Alvarez coming to the plate. He grounded out towards shortstop Nick Maton, who had to come running for the ball and made the throw to first baseman Josh Ockimey as Robertson moved to second base.
Mets’ first baseman Daniel Palka was up at bat. Gomez threw a wild pitch during his plate appearance, moving Robertson to third base. Then, Gomez’s pitch went off the glove of Donny Sands, and Robertson scored for a 1-0 lead. After Palka singled, Gomez struck out Mark Vientos, followed by another single to Nick Plummer, and left fielder Gosuke Katoh singled to left field, but Chris Sharpe’s throw to home plate got Palka out that retired the side.
IronPigs’ second baseman Jean Segura started the bottom of the first inning with a ground out, followed by back-to-back walks to Dalton Guthrie and Donny Sands with Johan Camargo coming to the plate. Camargo doubled to right field, scoring Guthrie that tied the game 1-1, and Sands went to third base. Then, Mets’ catcher Francisco Alvarez could not catch Montgomery’s ball, and Sands scored, giving the IronPigs a 2-1 lead. Nick Maton and Jorge Bonifacio struck out that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Ofreidy Gomez loaded the bases with one out and was replaced by Bubby Rossman. Gomez went 1.1 innings, allowing three hits, one run, two walks, and two strikeouts in 46 pitches. Rossman struck out Francisco Alvarez and got Daniel Palka to pop out, ending the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, James Dykstra was set to replace Bubby Rossman. Rossman went 1.2 innings, with no hits, no runs, no walks, and three strikeouts in 34 pitches. However, during Dykstra’s warm-up throws, he got injured, and Michael Kelly came in. Kelly got Deven Marrero to fly out, struck out JT Riddle, and got Kramer Robertson to ground out that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, IronPigs’ left fielder Chris Sharpe doubled with one out. Then, IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey walked, followed by designated hitter Rafael Marchan’s single, loaded the bases for Jean Segura.
Segura singled to right field, scoring Sharpe for a 3-1 lead, with IronPigs’ center fielder Dalton Guthrie coming to bat. Guthrie singled to right field on a 2-2 count, scoring Ockimey for a 4-1 lead. IronPigs’ catcher Donny Sands was next. Donny Sands singled on a ground ball to right field, scoring Marchan and Segura for a 6-1 lead. Sands reached second base on a throw to home plate, and Dalton Guthrie went to third base.
After that, the Mets made a pitching change with former IronPigs Adonis Medina in for Tim Adleman. Johan Camargo was up first against Medina. He hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Guthrie for a 7-1 lead with Nick Maton coming to the plate. Maton doubled on a sharp fly ball to right field, scoring Donny Sands for an 8-1 lead. It was Maton’s 20th double of the season. Finally, Jorge Bonifacio lined out to center field, ending the inning.
IronPigs’ left fielder Chris Sharpe started the bottom of the fifth inning with a single, followed by a ground out from Josh Ockimey, moving Sharpe to second base. IronPigs’ designated hitter Rafael Marchan was up to bat. During his plate appearance, a balk was called on the Mets, and Sharpe moved to third base. Then, Marchan singled on a soft fly ball to left field, scoring Sharpe for a 9-1 lead.
IronPigs’ second baseman Jean Segura was up to bat. He grounded towards Mets’ pitcher Adonis Medina, who made the throw to second base to get Marchan out at second as Segura reached first base for Dalton Guthrie. Guthrie flew out to right field, ending the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, James Marvel was the IronPigs pitcher. Michael Kelly went two innings with no hits, no runs, no walks, and two strikeouts in 22 pitches. Marvel gave up a single to Gosuke Katoh with one out but got Khalil Lee to ground into a double play that retired the side.
Moving ahead to the top of the eighth inning, Johan Camargo made a highlight play. With one out, and runners on first and second, Khalil Lee grounded towards a diving Camargo, who threw the ball on his back to Maton, then Maton threw to Josh Ockimey to complete the double play that ended the inning.
Yennsy Diaz was the new Mets pitcher at the bottom of the eighth inning. He walked Rafael Marchan, followed by getting Jean Segura to fly out with Dalton Guthrie coming to the plate. Diaz walked Guthrie, and Donny Sands was up next. Donny Sands singled to left field, scoring Marchan for a 10-1 lead. IronPigs’ third baseman Johan Camargo was batting next. He singled on a sharp line drive to right field, scoring Guthrie for an 11-1 lead.
IronPigs’ shortstop Nick Maton was walked by Diaz that loaded the bases for right fielder Jorge Bonifacio. Bonifacio singled to center field, scoring Donny Sands for a 12-1 lead. IronPigs’ left fielder Chris Sharpe was up next with the bases loaded. Diaz walked Sharpe, and it was 13-1. Justin Dillon replaced Diaz and got IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey to ground into a double play that ended the inning.
Zach Warren was the new IronPigs pitcher at the top of the ninth inning. He gave up a single to Deven Marrero. Then, Warren got JT Riddle to ground into a double play for two outs. Warren walked Tzu-Wei Lin, followed by a single from Francisco Alvarez. Mets’ first baseman Daniel Palka was up to bat. He singled to left field, scoring Marrero, making it 13-2.
Zach Warren walked Mark Vientos to load the bases for Nick Plummer. Unfortunately, Warren walked Plummer, which forced in a run, 13-3. Gosuke Katoh was up to bat for the Mets. He doubled to right field, clearing the bases, and it was now 13-6 IronPigs.
Zach Warren was done, and Jonathan Hennigan was the new pitcher. Hennigan struck out Khalil Lee, ending the game, and the IronPigs won 13-6. The IronPigs had 14 hits in the game. For now, the IronPigs have sole possession of first place and are now 55-45 on the season.
The win went to IronPigs pitcher Bubby Rossman, his first win of the season, while the loss went to Mets starter Mike Montgomery.
The IronPigs continue their series with the Mets tomorrow at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
