The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (33-31) took on the Toledo Mud Hens (28-37) in game three of a six-game series on Friday night from Coca-Cola Park. Coming into this game, the IronPigs were looking to take the series lead after shutting out the Mud Hens on Thursday night.
Nick Nelson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making this third start of the season against Toledo’s Tarik Skubal (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
In the bottom of the second inning, with two outs, Lehigh Valley left fielder Simon Muzziotti got the first hit of the game as Scott Kingery approached home plate. However, Kingery never got a chance to bat as Muzziotti was caught stealing second base for the final out of the inning. It was the ninth time that he was caught stealing a base this year.
It was a pitcher’s duel as the game was scoreless in the first four innings. Nick Nelson did a great job pitching four innings, allowing two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts in 62 pitches, of which 38 were strikes.
At the top of the fifth inning, Trey Cobb was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. Cobb gave up a double to Joe Rizzo. Three batters later, Toledo center fielder Parker Meadows hit Cobb’s hanging breaking ball 101 mph off the bat for a two-run home run over the wall at right field for a 2-0 lead with two outs. After Cobb gave up a single to Justyn-Henry Malloy, Cobb got Tyler Nevin to lineout toward right fielder Jordan Qsar for the final out of the inning.
Lehigh Valley responded in the bottom of the fifth inning. Seth Elledge was pitching for the Mud Hens. He walked Simon Muzziotti with one out for Scott Kingery. During Kingery’s at-bat, a balk was called on Toledo and Muzziotti went to second base. Next, Kingery singled to center field as Muzziotti went to third base.
Cal Stevenson was next and Elledge walked him, loading the bases for Esteban Quiroz. Quiroz singled to center field, scoring Muzziotti and Kingery, tying the game 2-2.
Jake was next and Elledge struck him out. Then, Toledo changed pitchers afterward with Bryan Sammons replacing Elledge. Jim Haley was the first to face Sammons but struck out swinging, ending the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the ninth inning, Simon Muzziotti doubled to left field with one out. Next, Scott Kingery singled toward third baseman Joe Rizzo and the ball went under his glove but left fielder Justyn-Henry Malloy picked up the ball as Muzziotti reached third base and had no chance to score. Unfortunately, Cal Stevenson and Esteban Quiroz struck out which ended the inning as the game headed to extra innings.
Moving to the top of the eleventh inning, Justyn-Henry Malloy started at second base with Jeremy Walker pitching for Lehigh Valley. Tyler Nevin grounded toward second baseman Jim Haley, moving Malloy to third base for the first out with Nick Solak coming to the plate.
Walker walked Solak with Andre Lipcius up at bat. Lipcius brought Malloy home with a sacrifice fly to left field, making it 3-2 Toledo. Then, Walker got Donny Sands to ground out to third baseman Weston Wilson which retired the side.
John Hicks started the bottom of the eleventh inning on second base with Aneurys Zabala pitching for Toledo. With one out, Simon Muzziotti singled on a live drive to center field, scoring Hicks that tied the game 3-3. Once again, Lehigh Valley could not put the game away as Scott Kingery struck out and Cal Stevenson flies out toward center fielder Parker Meadows which ended the inning.
Jesus Cruz was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the twelfth inning with Toledo deciding to make a switch and put Andrew Knapp at second base. With one out and Michael Papierski batting, Papierski singled to center field, scoring Knapp that made it 4-3 Toledo. Then, Cruz got back-to-back strikeouts against Corey Joyce and Parker Meadows that ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley had one more chance to either tie or win the game in the bottom of the twelfth inning. Cal Stevenson started the inning on second base. Unfortunately, Lehigh Valley was unable to bring him home and the IronPigs lost to the Mud Hens by the final score of 4-3.
Lehigh Valley’s pitching was good tonight but their offense did not execute when they needed to. They had several chances to take the lead including late in the game. At one point, Lehigh Valley’s pitchers had retired 11 straight batters.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with eight hits, went 4-17 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base. Jesus Cruz lost his second game of the year for Lehigh Valley, while the win went to Toledo pitcher Aneurys Zabala and Matt Wisler earned his first save of the season.
The IronPigs and Mud Hens play game four on Friday 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.
