The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (18-17) played game three of a six-game homestand on Thursday night against the Memphis Redbirds (22-14) on Mamajuana Night. The IronPigs were renamed the Mamajuana for this game.
Coming into this game, the series was tied 1-1. Cristopher Sanchez (0-1, 4.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Memphis’s Zack Thompson (0-0, 10.80 ERA).
At the top of the first inning with a runner on first base and one out, Memphis catcher Ivan Herrera hit an RBI double to center field, scoring Masyn Winn for a 1-0 lead. Lehigh Valley pitcher Cristopher Sanchez got back-to-back groundouts which ended the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the third inning, the IronPigs took the lead. Scott Kingery was walked with one out with Weston Wilson stepping up to the plate. He hit a two-run home run 108 mph off the bat and into the IronPigs’ bullpen for a 2-1 lead.
It was Wilson’s ninth home run of the season and the third this week. After Simon Muzziotti walked, John Hicks grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The game got out of hand at the top of the fifth inning. Cristopher Sanchez walked Kramer Robertson before giving up a single to Juniel Querecuto. Masyn Winn was next and drove Robertson home with an RBI single to center field, tying the game 2-2.
Then, Sanchez loaded the bases when he walked Taylor Motter followed by walking Ivan Herrera, forcing in a run and the Redbirds led 3-2. After that, there was a mound visit as Lehigh Valley had action in the bullpen. Moises Gomez was up next and he hit a grand slam off Sanchez’s fastball into the berm at center field for a 7-2 lead.
That was it for Sanchez, who finished the night pitching four innings, allowing six hits, seven runs, five walks, and three strikeouts in 78 pitches, of which 44 were strikes. Jake Jewell replaced Sanchez to get the three outs that retired the side.
Moving into the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley center field Simon Muzziotti singled to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. John Hicks followed up with a single of his own with Jake Cave up next. Cave grounded into a forceout at second base with Jim Haley coming to the plate.
Haley hit a fly ball that went off the wall as Oscar Mercado crashed into the wall. The ball carried enough speed to allow Jim Haley to score an inside-the-park home run that made it 7-5 with one out. It’s Haley’s second home run of the season.
Two batters later, the IronPigs made it a one-run game when Dustin Peterson hit a solo home run to left field goal. The IronPigs trailed the Redbirds 7-6. After Jhailyn Ortiz walked, the Redbirds changed pitchers with Kodi Whitley in for Andrew Suarez. Whitley gave up a single to Scott Kingery but struck out Weston Wilson, ending the inning.
Moving to the top of the ninth inning, Jakob Hernandez was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. He walked Taylor Motter and Ivan Herrera with one out.
Then, Moises Gomez singled that loaded the bases for Jordan Walker. The Redbirds picked up an insurance run on Walker’s sacrifice fly to center field and it was 8-6 Memphis. Hernandez got Luken Baker to ground into a fielder’s choice that ended the inning.
The IronPigs had more inning to get back into the game. Jake Cave singled on a ground ball to left field with one out. Unfortunately, Jim Haley lined out and Esteban Quiroz flies out to left field which ended the game. The IronPigs lose to the Redbirds by the final score of 8-6.
The IronPigs finished the night with ten hits, went 1-11 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Cristopher Sanchez lost his second game of the season, while Kodi Whitley picked up his first win of the season for Memphis, and Jake Walsh earned his first save of the season for the Redbirds.
The IronPigs and Redbirds play game four on Friday at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
