The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (11-12) were looking to continue their winning ways on Thursday night at the 121 Financial Ballpark against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (11-11).
Coming into this series, the IronPigs led 2-0. Michael Plassmeyer (0-1, 6.23 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Jacksonville’s George Soriano (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
After a scoreless first inning, IronPigs’ second baseman Scott Kingery started the top of the second inning with a walk. Later, a passed ball by catcher Santiago Chavez moved Kingery up to second base. Jim Haley and Jhailyn Ortiz were unable to move Kingery, and Vito Friscia walked on four pitches for Simon Muzziotti.
Muzziotti singled on a chopped ball that just went past a diving second baseman Xavier Edwards and into right field, scoring Kingery for a 1-0 lead with two outs. Dalton Guthrie was next but he grounded out to end the inning.
Lehigh Valley pitcher Michael Plassmeyer got into trouble in the bottom of the second inning. First, he gave up back-to-back walks to Jerar Encarnacion and Charles Leblanc with one out. Then, the Jumbo Shrimp tied the game 1-1 when Jacob Amaya singled to left field, scoring Encarnacion with Jake Mangum coming to bat.
Lehigh Valley made a costly error as Mangum grounded toward third baseman Vimael Machin and he threw the ball over shortstop Weston Wilson’s head and into center field, scoring Leblanc which put Jacksonville ahead 2-1.
Continuing his bad inning, Plassmeyer walked Santiago Chavez that loaded the bases, followed by forcing in a run when he walked Xavier Edwards and it was now 3-1 Jumbo Shrimp. In need of a double play, Plassmeyer got it as Joey Wendle grounded toward Scott Kingery and the inning ended.
The game continued to get worse for Plassmeyer in the bottom of the third inning. With inclement weather moving in, the winds started to pick up. Plassmeyer gave up a double to Jerar Encarnacion with one out. Two batters later, Lehigh Valley committed their second error of the game when third baseman Vimael Machin’s throw went by first baseman Jim Haley with Encarnacion scoring and it was now 4-1 Jumbo Shrimp with two outs.
The rain started to pour down onto the field and the IronPigs chose to put Hans Crouse in for Plassmeyer. Crouse struck out Jacob Amaya which ended the inning. Michael Plassmeyer pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two hits, four runs, four walks, and four strikeouts in 68 pitches, of which 40 were strikes. The rain let up and the game continued.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the seventh inning, Jacob Hernandez pitched for Lehigh Valley. He walked Jordan Groshans with one out. Two batters later, Hernandez threw a fastball to Peyton Burdick and he crushed it with the wind carrying it into the seats at right field for a two-run home run. It was now 6-1 Jumbo Shrimp with two outs. Hernandez got Charles Leblanc to ground out to end the inning.
At the top of the eighth inning, the IronPigs had one more chance as the rain began to pick up again. They had to face Dylan Bice. Lehigh Valley left fielder Jhailyn Ortiz walked with two outs but Vito Friscia grounded out that ended the inning.
Just before the bottom of the eighth inning began, rain was falling harder onto the field and the umpire called for the ground’s crews. The game never resumed and the IronPigs’ six-game winning streak came to an end with a 6-1 loss to the Jumbo Shrimp.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with seven hits, went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base. Michael Plassmeyer lost his second game of the season, while the win went to Jacksonville’s Jackson Rose for his first win of the season.
The IronPigs and Jumbo Shrimp play game four on Friday at 7:05 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
