The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (5-7) and the Durham Bulls (6-6) squared off in game four on Friday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Coming into this game, the IronPigs lost two straight to Durham. Michael Plassmeyer (0-0, 8.59 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs against Durham’s Luis Patino (0-2, 7.71 ERA).
In the bottom of the first inning with runners on first and second base and one out. Durham catcher Rene Pinto hit a three-run home run off a fastball that cleared the monster wall at left field for a 3-0 lead. Plassmeyer got the last two outs that ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the fourth inning, Durham pitcher Luis Patino walked IronPigs’ shortstop Weston Wilson, followed by a single from Simon Muzziotti, and a Dustin Peterson walk which loaded the bases for first baseman Jim Haley.
Haley grounded toward third baseman Curtis Mead to score Wilson but Peterson was out at second base. It was now 3-1 Bulls with two outs. IronPigs’ right fielder Jordan Qsar was next but he flies out to center field which ended the inning.
IronPigs pitcher Michael Plassmeyer pitched one more inning. He finished the night pitching four innings, allowing eight hits, three runs, one walk, and five strikeouts in 68 pitches, of which 48 were strikes. Hans Crouse replaced Plassmeyer in the bottom of the fifth inning. He gave up a walk, and a double before striking out the side.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the pitching cycle struck again as Jake Jewell replaced Hans Crouse. With two outs, Durham right fielder Ruben Cardenas hit a solo home run off a hanging curveball deep into the berm at center field for a 4-1 lead. Jewell got the last out to end the inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley had a chance to get back into the game with the bases loaded and two outs for Weston Wilson but he struck out swinging.
At the top of the eighth inning with a runner on second base and two outs, IronPigs’ right fielder Jordan Qsar hit a two-run home run off a curveball clearing the wall at right field. It was now 4-3 Durham. Lehigh Valley catcher Vito Friscia was next and struck out swinging.
Heath Hembree was the new Durham pitcher at the top of the ninth inning. He walked Esteban Quiroz and Quiroz was replaced by Scott Kingery. Two batters later, Vimael Machin was intently walked with one out. Lehigh Valley could not bring both runners home as Weston Wilson struck out and Simon Muzziotti lined out that ended the game.
The IronPigs dropped their third game in a row by the final score of 4-3. Lehigh Valley was 2-10 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. Lehigh Valley pitcher Michael Plassmeyer lost his first game of the season and the win went to Luis Patino and Hembree earned his second save of the season.
The IronPigs and Bulls play game five on Saturday at 6:35 pm on MiLB.TV. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
