The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (24-25) and the Buffalo Bisons (24-26) played game five on Saturday night from Coca-Cola Park. Coming into this game, Lehigh Valley had a 3-1 series lead. Both teams were 5-5 in their last ten games.
Noah Skirrow (4-1, 4.58 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Buffalo’s Mitch White (0-1, 8.56 ERA).
In the first two innings, both teams combined for 11 runs. It started at the top of the first inning when Davis Schneider hit Skirrow’s fastball out to left field for a 2-0 lead with one out. Skirrow picked up the last two outs which ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley left fielder Jake Cave started the bottom of the first inning with a walk. Two batters later with one out, Jordan Qsar singled to center field, moving Cave to third base. Weston Wilson was next and grounded toward shortstop Rafael Lantigua for the out at first base, while Cave scored, cutting Buffalo’s lead to 2-1. Lehigh Valley could not score another run in the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Skirrow gave up back-to-back singles to Rob Brantly and Otto Lopez, moving Brantly to second base for LJ Talley. Talley Skirrow’s fastball into the seats at left field for a three-run home run to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
Two batters later with one out, Rafael Lantigua hit a solo home run onto the berm from left-center field to make it 6-1 Buffalo. Skirrow had now allowed 11 home runs this season. He picked up the final two outs to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Lehigh Valley battled back. It started when Scott Kingery got hit by a pitch from Mitch White. Jhailyn Ortiz was next and singled on a ground ball to shortstop Rafael Lantigua, moving Kingery to second base with John Hicks coming to the plate. Hicks singled to center field, scoring Kingery that cut Buffalo’s lead to 6-2. It was Hicks’s first RBI in 16 games.
Then, Jake Cave hit White’s fastball for an opposite-field three-run home run into the seats in left field. It was now 6-5 Buffalo with no outs. However, White picked up the three outs which ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the fourth inning, Skirrow gave up a single to Otto Lopez before getting a forceout at second base from LJ Talley. Then, he hit Cam Eden on the elbow with one out for Rafael Lantigua, who flies out toward right fielder Jordan Qsar, moving Talley to third base.
Tanner Morris was next. During his at-bat, Eden stole second base as Hicks overthrew second baseman Esteban Quiroz and Talley scored from third base. It was now 7-5 Buffalo. Morris singled to right field, scoring Eden, now 8-5. Next, Skirrow got Davis Schneider to ground out which retired the side. That was it for Skirrow, who pitched four innings, allowing eight hits, eight runs, one walk, and one strikeout in 84 pitches, of which 52 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley catcher John started the bottom of the fourth inning with a walk. Jake Cave was next. During his at-bat, Hicks stole second base but a throwing error by Buffalo’s catcher allowed Hicks to advance to third base. Cave grounded out to first baseman LJ Talley for the first out but Hicks scored. It was now 8-6 Buffalo. Then, Drew Ellis walked before Jordan Qsar hit into a double play, ending the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fifth inning, Yosver Zulueta was the new Buffalo pitcher. Weston Wilson was the first to face him and he singled to right field. Esteban Quiroz was next.
During his at-bat, Weston Wilson stole second base. Quiroz grounded out while Wilson moved to third base for Jim Haley. He doubled on a sharp line drive to center field, scoring Wilson and it was now 8-7 Buffalo.
Next, Scott Kingery followed up with a single to first baseman LJ Talley, moving Haley to third base. Two batters later with two outs, John Hicks doubled off Zulueta’s fastball to center field, scoring Haley and Kingery as Lehigh Valley took a 9-8 lead. Jake Cave struck out which ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the seventh inning, Jesus Cruz was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher. With one out, Cruz allowed back-to-back singles to Spencer Horwitz and Wynton Bernard, followed by hitting Rob Brantly, loading the bases for Otto Lopez.
Lopez hit toward third baseman Drew Ellis as Ellis overthrew the ball to catcher Jim Haley which went down as a fielder’s choice with everyone safe. Two runs scored as Buffalo regained a 10-9 lead. LJ Talley was next and hit Cruz’s fastball for a three-run home run hitting the 69 WFMZ sign at right field for a 13-9 lead. Ben Bowden replaced Jesus Cruz. Bowden walked a couple of Buffalo players however got the last two outs of the inning.
Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Andrew Bellatti was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher. He faced Spencer Horwitz. Bellatti threw a fastball as Horwitz crushed it over the wall at left field for a 14-9 lead. Bellatti picked up the next three outs which ended the inning.
Junior Fernandez closed out the game for Buffalo. Lehigh Valley could not hit against Fernandez and lost the game to Buffalo by the final score of 14-9.
The only positive about this game was Lehigh Valley’s hitters. For the most part, they have been consistent this season. Tonight, they had ten hits. For Jake Cave, in 20 games with the IronPigs, he is batting .440, 1.389 OPS, .869 slugging average, seven home runs, and 22 RBIs on 37 hits. Lehigh Valley went 6-15 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
Lehigh Valley pitcher Jesus Cruz lost his first game of the season, while Buffalo’s Paul Fry won his third game of the season. Lehigh Valley’s pitching has been inconsistent this season and makes too many mistakes. The pitching has failed the IronPigs and has cost them several wins this season.
The IronPigs and Bisons conclude the six-game series on Sunday 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.
