The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (5-8) and the Durham Bulls (7-6) played game five on Saturday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Coming into this game, the IronPigs were looking to snap a three-game losing streak. T.J. Zeuch (1-0, 0.82 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Durham’s Nathan Wiles (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Lehigh Valley had a chance to strike first at the top of the first inning with the bases loaded for Simon Muzziotti with one out but he grounded into a double play, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning with a runner on first base and no outs, Bulls’ first baseman Kyle Manzardo doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring Tristan Gray for a 1-0 lead. Then, catcher Nick Dini doubled on a ground ball to the corner of left field, scoring Manzardo for a 2-0 lead.
Two batters later, center fielder Kameron Misner hit a two-run home run off a hanging curveball near the foul pole at right field for a 4-0 lead. IronPigs pitcher T.J. Zeuch got the last two outs to end the inning.
The IronPigs cut Durham’s lead in half at the top of the third inning. With two outs and a runner on first base, IronPigs’ first baseman Weston Wilson hit a two-run home run off a fastball over the monster wall at left field. It was now 4-2 Durham. Lehigh Valley could not keep it going as the inning ended.
In the bottom of the third inning, Durham blew the game open. With runners on first and second base, Durham catcher Nick Dini hit a three-run home run off the fastball and over the wall at center field for a 7-2 lead with two outs. Lehigh Valley escaped the inning when Ruben Cardenas got caught stealing second base.
IronPigs pitcher T.J. Zeuch pitched four innings, allowing seven hits, seven runs, two walks, and six strikeouts in 77 pitches, of which 48 were strikes.
Moving ahead to the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley started chipping at Durham’s lead. Ben Heller was the new Durham pitcher. With runners on first and second base and one out, IronPigs’ second baseman Esteban Quiroz hit a two-run double to left field, scoring Scott Kingery and Jordan Qsar. It was now 7-4 Durham. After a single by Dalton Guthrie, the IronPigs batters went quiet and the inning ended.
At the top of the eighth inning with one out and a runner on third base, IronPigs’ shortstop Scott Kingery singled on a ground ball to center field, scoring Simon Muzziotti and it was now 7-5 Durham. After Scott Kingery stole second base and later third base on a throwing error, designated hitter Jordan Qsar drove Kingery home with a sacrifice fly to center field. It was now a one-run game 7-6. Lehigh Valley could not find a way to tie the game the score remained 7-6.
In the bottom of the eighth inning with runners at second and third base, Bulls’ first baseman Kyle Manzardo hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Ben Gamel for an 8-6 lead. The IronPigs got the last two outs which ended the inning.
Hector Perez was the new Durham pitcher at the top of the ninth inning. He walked Weston Wilson with two outs before getting Simon Muzziotti to ground out for the final out of the game. Lehigh Valley lost its fourth consecutive game by the final score of 8-6.
IronPigs’ pitcher T.J. Zeuch lost his first game of the season, while the win went to Durham pitcher Trevor Brigden and Hector Perez earned his first save of the season. The IronPigs were 3-10 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
The IronPigs and Bulls conclude the series on Sunday at 5:05 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
