On Thursday night at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs battled the Gwinnett Stripers in game three of a six-game series. The IronPigs came into this game tied for first place with the Durham Bulls.
Before the game started, the Philadelphia Phillies announced that Brandon Marsh was sent to Lehigh Valley for a rehab assignment, while Bryce Harper is set to return to the Phillies on Friday. Marsh was in the lineup as a designated hitter.
Kent Emanuel (2-1, 2.36 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while the Stripers started Kyle Muller (6-6, 3.17 ERA).
IronPigs started Kent Emanuel who put on a stellar performance, going seven innings, allowing three hits, no runs, no walks, and five strikeouts in 90 pitches.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the IronPigs had a chance to break the scoreless tie. After Chris Sharpe reached first base on a fielding error by Hernan Perez, Scott Kingery singled, moving Sharpe to third base with no outs.
Then, Scott Kingery got caught in a rundown trying to steal second base. However, Stripers’ second baseman Rylan Bannon saw Chris Sharpe stealing home and threw the ball to catcher Joe Dunand, who tagged Sharpe out. Meanwhile, Kingery reached third base.
These moves were in question as there were no outs. They also killed any momentum the IronPigs had. Unfortunately, Daniel Robertson struck out, and Karl Ellison grounded out, ending the inning.
Jace Fry was the new IronPigs pitcher to start the top of the eighth inning. Stripers’ first baseman Tyler White was up first. He crushed a solo home run into the Capital Tiki Terrance & Oasis bar for a 1-0 lead. Fry gave up a single to Hendrik Clementina and walked Joe Dunand before being replaced by Jonathan Hennigan.
Hennigan walked Delino DeShields before getting Taylor Motter to ground into a double play for two outs. Then, Hennigan gave up a single Hernan Perez, scoring Clementina for a 2-0 lead.
The run was charged to Fry, whose final numbers were 0.0 IP, two hits, two runs, two earned runs, one walk, and no strikeouts in 13 pitches. Finally, Hennigan got Pat Valaika to pop out that retired the side.
Jacob Webb closed out the game for the Stripers in the bottom of the ninth inning. He hit Chris Sharpe with one out, but Scott Kingery flew out to left field, and Daniel Robertson grounded into a forceout at second base, and the IronPigs were shutout 2-0.
The IronPigs had four hits in the game and dropped to 66-54 on the season. Meanwhile, the Durham Bulls beat the Nashville Sound 7-5, and the IronPigs are now one game back for first place in the International League East Division.
The win went to Stripers’ pitcher Jesús Cruz for his second win of the season, and the loss went to IronPigs pitcher Jace Fry. It was Fry’s second loss of the season.
The series continues tonight at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
