After having their five-game winning streak snapped on Thursday night, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (12-12) returned to the 121 Financial Ballpark on Friday to start a new one against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (11-12).
Coming into this game, Lehigh Valley led the series 2-1 and went with a bullpen game. Jake Jewell (1-0, 5.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Jacksonville’s Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-1, 4.40 ERA). Jewell pitched one inning with one strikeout in 11 pitches, of which nine were strikes.
The IronPigs scored six runs off of three home runs in the first four innings. At the top of the second inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Jordan Qsar crushed the ball at 109.6 mph off the bat and over the bleachers, and into the parking lot at right field for a 1-0 lead. It was Qsar’s fifth home run of the season.
At the top of the third inning with runners on first and second base, left fielder Simon Muzziotti hit a three-run home run near the foul pole at right field for a 4-0 lead. It was Muzziotti’s first home run of the season.
Then, designated hitter Jhailyn Ortiz hit a two-run home run into the bleachers at right field for a 6-0 lead. It was Ortiz’s second home run of the season.
At the top of the sixth inning, Cristian Charlie was the new Jacksonville pitcher. Lehigh Valley second baseman Vimael Machin reached first base on a fielding error by second baseman C.J. Hinojosa with one out. Then, Charlie loaded the bases when he walked Jhailyn Ortiz and gave up a single to Jim Haley with Esteban Quiroz due to bat.
Quiroz grounded into a forceout at third base but Machin scored for a 7-0 lead. Then, Dalton Guthrie singled on a fly ball to center field, scoring Jim Haley for an 8-0 lead. Simon Muzziotti was next and he singled to center field, scoring Quiroz for a 9-0 lead. Lehigh Valley catcher John Hicks followed with another single to left field, bringing Guthrie home for a 10-0 lead. Jordan Qsar was next but he struck out swinging which ended the inning.
Louis Head pitched for the IronPigs in the bottom of the sixth inning. He walked Xavier Edwards before giving up a triple to Joey Wendle, scoring Edwards that put Jacksonville on the board. It was 10-1 Lehigh Valley. Two batters later, a passed ball by John Hicks scored Wendle and it was now 10-2 with one out and a runner on first base. Peyton Burdick was next and he hit a two-run home run over the wall at left field. The IronPigs lead was down to 10-4.
That was it for Head, who was replaced by Trey Cobb. After giving up a single, Cobb got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the eighth inning, third baseman Esteban Quiroz walked on four pitches. Two batters later, Simon Muzziotti singled on a line drive, moving Quiroz to second base with one out for John Hicks.
During Hicks’s at-bat, Jacksonville pitcher Richard Rodriguez threw a wild pitch, moving both runners up a base. Then, Hicks brought home Quiroz with a sacrifice fly to right field for an 11-4 lead with two outs. Jordan Qsar popped out to end the inning.
Jesus Cruz was the new IronPigs pitcher in the bottom of the ninth inning. He struck out Jacob Amaya with a runner on first base. Two batters later, Cruz struck out C.J. Hinojosa for the second out and got Xavier Edwards to line out for the final out of the game.
Lehigh Valley defeated the Jumbo Shrimp by the final score of 11-4. Lehigh Valley are now 7-3 in their last ten games. One unique thing that happened in this game was catchers could challenge calls made by the umpire. Lehigh Valley catcher John Hick successfully challenged two calls that were overturned. This was good and I hope it makes its way to the major leagues.
The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Jeremy Walker. He pitched two innings, allowing one hit and one strikeout in 26 pitches, of which 16 were strikes for his first win of the season. The loss went to Jacksonville pitcher Chi Chi Gonzales. It was his second loss of the season.
The IronPigs and Jumbo Shrimp play game four on Saturday at 6:35 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
