The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (28-27) and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (27-29) played game five of a six-game series on Saturday night. Coming into this game, the series was tied at two apiece.
Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies sent pitcher Jose Alvarado to Lehigh Valley to begin his rehab assignment. The IronPigs went with a bullpen game as Jesus Cruz (0-1, 7.20 ERA) was on the mound against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Will Warren (2-1, 5.27 ERA).
The IronPigs got to Will Warren in the bottom of the first inning. Jake Cave started the inning with a single, followed by a Weston Wilson walk. Two batters later with one out, Dustin Peterson singled to left field, scoring Cave for a 1-0 lead.
Then, Jordan Qsar hit a two-run double to right field, scoring Wilson and Peterson for a 3-0 lead still with one out. John Hicks and Esteban Quiroz both struck out which ended the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the second inning, Will Warren gave up a single to Jhailyn Ortiz, followed by back-to-back walks to Scott Kingery and Jake Cave, loading the bases for Weston Wilson. Wilson grounded toward shortstop Oswald Peraza for a double play but Ortiz scored for a 4-0 lead. After Warren walked Darick Hall, the RailRiders changed pitchers. Michael Feliz was the new pitcher for the RailRiders and got Dustin Peterson to ground out to end the inning.
At the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley pitcher Jesus Cruz gave up back-to-back singles to Billy McKinney and Jaime Westbrook, moving McKinney to third base. Jesus Bastidas was next. He grounded toward third baseman Esteban Quiroz for a forceout at second base but McKinney scored. It was now 4-1 IronPigs. After Cruz got Elijah Dunham to fly out to left fielder Dustin Peterson, Lehigh Valley changed pitchers going with Trey Cobb. Jesus Cruz finished the game pitching 2.2 innings, allowing two hits, one run, and one strikeout in 42 pitches, of which 27 were strikes. Cobb got Oswald Peraza to pop out for the final out of the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Weston Wilson was walked by James Norwood to start the inning. Darick Hall was next. During his at-bat, Weston Wilson stole second base and a throwing error by catcher Carlos Narvaez allowed Wilson to steal third base. Hall brought Wilson home with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 5-1 lead. Lehigh Valley did not score any more runs in the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Esteban Quiroz singled to shortstop Oswald Peraza, followed by D.J. Snelten walking Jhailyn Ortiz. Scott Kingery was next. During his at-bat, Snelten threw a wild pitch, moving everyone up a base. Kingery walked that loaded the bases for Jake Cave.
Cave doubled on a sharp fly ball off the wall at right field, scoring Quiroz and Ortiz for a 7-1 lead. Lehigh Valley did not score any more runs in the inning.
David Parkinson was pitching for the IronPigs at the top of the sixth inning. He walked Oswald Peraza before giving up a double to Ben Rortvedt, scoring Peraza to cut the IronPigs’ lead to 7-2. Next, he walked Andres Chaparro, followed by striking out Franchy Cordero. Then, Carlos Narvaez singled that loaded the bases for Billy McKinney.
McKinney hit a grand slam off Parkinson’s hanging slider over the wall at right field, making it a one-run game 7-6 with one out. Parkinson picked up the other two outs to retire the side.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the eighth inning, Matt Krook was pitching for the RailRiders. Weston Wilson was up first and singled on a line drive to center field. Darick Hall was next. During his plate appearance, Wilson stole second base, and a ground out by Hall moved Wilson to third base. Dustin Peterson was next and singled to center field, scoring Wilson for an 8-6 lead. Lehigh Valley did not score for the rest of the inning.
Jacob Barnes closed out the game for the IronPigs at the top of the ninth inning. He gave up a double to Oswald Peraza with one out before getting back-to-back strikeouts on Ben Rortvedt and Andres Chaparro that ended the game. The IronPigs defeated the RailRiders by the final score of 8-6. Lehigh Valley now leads the series 3-2.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with eight hits, went 4-18 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Jose Alvarado. He pitched one inning, allowing one hit, and one strikeout in 18 pitches, of which ten were strikes. The loss went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Will Warren, and Jacob Barnes earned his first save of the season for Lehigh Valley.
Lehigh Valley can win the series on Sunday against the RailRiders at 1:35 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
