On Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs continued their 12-game homestand against the Charlotte Knights in game one of the series.
Michael Plassmeyer (3-2, 3.27 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while the Knights started J.B. Olson (1-2, 4.95 ERA).
Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies assigned outfielder Simon Muzziotti from Reading. Muzziotti batted .259 with five doubles, four triples, five home runs, and 20 RBIs in 38 games. Meanwhile, the IronPigs placed catchers Rafael Marchan and Donny Sands on the 7-day injured list and called up catcher Jack Conley from Reading. Karl Ellison started at catcher. It was his third game since being called up from the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.
IronPigs’ center fielder Simon Muzziotti started the bottom of the first inning with a single, and second baseman Yairo Munoz was up next. Munoz doubled on a sharp fly ball to right field, scoring Muzziotti for a 1-0 lead. IronPigs’ designated hitter Johan Camargo was up next. He grounded into a fielder’s choice towards pitcher J.B. Olson, who threw over the third base to get Munoz out, and Camargo was safe at first base.
IronPigs’ right fielder Justin Williams was up next but struck out on a foul tip, and Chris Sharpe was next. On a 2-2 count, Sharpe hit a two-run home run to the Capital lawn at left field, extending Lehigh Valley’s lead to 3-0. It was Sharpe’s second home run of the season. Josh Ockimey was next and called on strikes, ending the inning.
At the top of the third inning, with two outs, Knights’ shortstop Romy Gonzales hit a solo home run to center field, cutting the IronPigs’ lead 3-1. Knights’ third baseman Jake Burger was up next, and IronPigs pitcher Michael Plassmeyer struck him out to retire the side.
IronPigs’ second baseman Yairo Munoz started the bottom of the third inning with a single, and Johan Camargo came to the plate. During Camargo’s plate appearance, Munoz stole second base. Then, on a 3-2 count, Camargo doubled on a sharp fly ball that one-hopped off the wall at right field, scoring Munoz for a 4-1 lead.
After IronPigs’ right fielder Justin Williams grounded out to shortstop Romy Gonzales, moving Camargo to third base, the Knights made a pitching change with Lane Ramsey for J.B. Olson. IronPigs’ left fielder Chris Sharpe was up to bat. He hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Camargo, which made it 5-1 IronPigs.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fifth inning, the Knights brought in Yoan Aybar as the new pitcher. He walked Johan Camargo, followed by a single from Justin Williams. IronPigs’ left fielder Chris Sharpe was next but was called out on strikes.
IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey was up next. On a 2-1 count, Ockimey crushed the ball, hitting the Cedar Crest College sign at right field for a three-run home run to blow the game open, 8-1. Will Toffey grounded out, and Scott Kingery struck out to end the inning.
IronPigs pitcher Michael Plassmeyer was lights out after giving up a run at the top of the third inning. He went six innings, allowing two hits, one run, two walks, and seven strikeouts in 96 pitches. Michael Kelly was the new pitcher.
Kelly got Carlos Perez to ground out, followed by striking out Adam Haseley, and giving up a single to Yolbert Sanchez. Blake Rutherford was up next for the Knights, and the IronPigs defense came up big. Rutherford doubled over the head of Simon Muzziotti.
Muzziotti threw the ball to Scott Kingery, who then threw it to catcher Karl Ellison as Sanchez was trying to score, and they got him out to end the inning. That was it for Kelly, who went one inning, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout in 21 pitches.
Jace Fry pitched the eighth inning with no hits, no runs, and no walks in nine pitches. Mark Appel closed out the game at the top of the ninth inning. He got a groundout from Romy Gonzales, a flyout from Jake Burger, and a pop-out from Carlos Perez, ending the game.
The IronPigs won 8-1, and are now 59-47 for the season, while Charlotte drops to 40-66. The IronPigs are now 5-2 against Charlotte this year. This was a nice bounce-back game from the IronPigs after giving up 18 runs to the Syracuse Mets on Sunday. In addition, the IronPigs are now tied again with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for first place.
The win went to IronPigs starter Michael Plassmeyer, his fourth win of the year, and Knights pitcher J.B. Olson (1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) lost his third game of the year.
Game two of the series continues today at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
