The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (33-30) took on the Toledo Mud Hens (27-37) in game two of a six-game series on Wednesday night from Coca-Cola Park. Coming into this game, the IronPigs trailed the series 1-0 and were looking to snap a two-game losing streak.
Noah Skirrow (5-2, 6.08 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Toledo’s Zach Logue (1-4, 5.40 ERA).
Lehigh Valley struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Lehigh Valley shortstop Weston Wilson started the inning with a single to center field. Three batters later with two outs, first baseman Darick Hall obliterated Logue’s fastball 112 mph off the bat and over the KLYR roof at right field for a two-run home run. It was Hall’s second home run of the season as Lehigh Valley led 2-0 and the home run went 420 feet. Cristian Pache struck out that ended the inning.
Then, the IronPigs added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Toledo pitcher Zach Logue walked Cal Stevenson to begin the inning. However, after striking out Weston Wilson, Toledo changed pitchers with Rony Garcia replacing Logue.
Jake Cave was next. During his at-bat, Stevenson stole second base before Garcia threw a hanging breaking ball and Cave got all of it for a two-run home run to right-center field for a 4-0 lead. It was Cave’s tenth home run of the year and the home run went 430 feet.
Next, Drew Ellis doubled on a fly ball to right field with Darick Hall coming up. Unfortunately, Hall struck out and Cristian Pache was up with two outs. Garcia walked Pache with Jhailyn Ortiz approaching the plate. Ortiz did not get a chance to bat as former IronPigs Andrew Knapp picked off Pache at first base which ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fifth inning, Cal Stevenson started the inning hitting a double to right field. Next, after Weston Wilson struck out, Toledo changed pitchers with Layne Henderson in for Rony Garcia.
Jake Cave was the first to face Henderson. During Cave’s at-bat, Henderson tried to pick off Stevenson at second base but the ball passed second baseman Andre Lipcius and Stevenson went to third base. Next, Cave doubled on a line drive to right field, scoring Stevenson for a 5-0 lead. It was Cave’s 21st double of the season. Then, Layne Henderson struck out Drew Ellis and Darick Hall which ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the seventh inning, Noah Skirrow gave up a single to Joe Rizzo before walking Nick Solak with one out before being replaced by Jacob Barnes. Skirrow pitched a great game, going 6.1 innings, allowing five hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in 102 pitches, of which 59 were strikes. Barnes got the other two outs to retire the side.
Lehigh Valley added more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. It started when Jhailyn Ortiz singled to center field, followed by a double from Scott Kingery, moving Ortiz to third base with Rafael Marchan due up to bat. Marchan brought Ortiz home with an RBI single to right field that made it 6-0 with Kingery moving to third base for Cal Stevenson.
Stevenson brought Kingery home with a sacrifice fly to left field that made it 7-0. Two batters later with two outs, Jake Cave singled to right field, scoring Marchan for an 8-0 lead. It was Cave’s fourth RBI of the night. Drew Ellis grounded out which ended the inning.
Andrew Bellatti closed out the game for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. After giving up a double to Tyler Nevin, Bellatti got the final three outs that ended the game. The IronPigs shut out the Med Hens by the final score of 8-0.
Lehigh Valley played a perfect game. In addition, the pitching and hitting, and the defense did a great job with a couple of double plays. Jake Cave continues his tremendous start in Lehigh Valley. He went 3-4 with four RBIs. He is now batting .398 with 10 home runs, 37 RBIs, one stolen base, 53 hits, and 42 runs in 133 at-bats. Lehigh Valley finished the night with 12 hits, 5 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base.
After Skirrow pitched, Jacob Barnes, Ben Bowden, and Andrew Bellatti allowed two hits and three strikeouts. Lehigh Valley pitcher Noah Skirrow earned his sixth win of the season, while Toledo’s Zach Logue lost his fifth game of the year.
The IronPigs and Mud Hens play game three on Thursday night 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.
