The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (34-33) concluded a six-game homestand on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park against the Toledo Mud Hens (30-38). Lehigh Valley came into this game already losing the series to Toledo but wanted to close out the homestand on a winning note.
In addition, Lehigh Valley was looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Bailey Falter (2-0, 6.00 ERA) was on the mound for the Lehigh Valley making his fifth start of the year against Toledo’s Matt Wisler (4-0, 2.53 ERA). Falter had a rough outing in the series opener against Toledo this past Tuesday when he gave up four hits, four runs, and one walk in 1.1 innings.
Falter got off to a rough start again at the top of the first inning. He gave up a double to Parker Meadows to start the inning. Next, he walked Nick Solak, followed by a single from Justyn-Henry Malloy that loaded the bases for Jose Rizzo. Rizzo flies out to center fielder Dalton Guthrie but it was not deep enough to score a run.
Andre Lipcius was next with one out. He singled off Falter’s fastball and into left field, scoring Meadows for a 1-0 lead with Andrew Knapp stepping up to home plate. Knapp singled softly toward a diving third baseman Drew Ellis as the ball bounced off his glove and everyone was safe around. It was now 2-0 Mud Hens. Falter would get out of the jam when Michael Papierski popped out and Corey Joyce flies out toward Dalton Guthrie for the final out of the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Jake Cave doubled on a sharp line drive to right field. Next, Drew Ellis moved Cave to third base with a ground out to first baseman Andre Lipcius. Darick Hall had a chance to bring Cave home but he flies out to center fielder Parker Meadows which ended the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Toledo changed pitchers with Jack O’Loughlin replacing Matt Wisler. Dustin Peterson was the first to face O’Loughlin. He singled on a line drive to right field with Weston Wilson next. Wilson worked the count to his favor and O’Loughlin walked him as Jim Haley was next with nobody out.
However, Lehigh Valley could not score as Haley struck out, John Hicks flies out to center field Parker Meadows, and Scott Kingery was called out on strikes that ended the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the third inning with one out, Jake Cave hit O’Loughlin’s changeup 106 mph off the bat that went over the wall at right-center field 430 feet for a solo home run. It was Cave’s 11th home run of the season and Toledo’s lead was now down to 2-1. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, Andrew Bellatti was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. Bailey Falter finished the afternoon pitching four innings, allowing four hits, two runs, three walks, and three strikeouts in 80 pitches, of which 49 were strikes.
After giving up a double to Parker Meadows, Bellatti settled down to strikeout Nick Solak, a pop-out by Justyn-Henry Malloy, and struck out Joe Rizzo which retired the side.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley almost had the game tied. With two outs, Dalton Guthrie singled to left field, followed by another single from Jake Cave as Guthrie went to third base. Drew Ellis was next but he struck out swinging which ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley’s offense finally put them in the lead with Aneurys Zabala pitching for Toledo. It started when Zabala walked Dalton Guthrie with two outs for Jake Cave. Cave singled to center field which moved Guthrie to third base as Drew Ellis approached the plate. During Ellis’s at-bat, Cave stole second base. Ellis put Lehigh Valley in the lead hitting Zabala’s fastball 106 mph off the bat for a three-run home run onto the Capital Blue Tiki Terrace & Oasis Bar at left field for a 4-2 lead. It was Ellis’s sixth home run of the season and the 22nd RBI of the year.
After walking Darick Hall, Zabala was replaced by Sam Clay. Dustin Peterson was the first to face Clay but he lined out to Sam Clay before throwing the ball to first baseman Andre Lipcius for the final out of the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the ninth inning, Ben Bowden closed out the game for Lehigh Valley. Bowden struck out Andrew Knapp and Michael Papierski before getting Corey Joyce to pop out toward shortstop Scott Kingery and the IronPigs defeated the Mud Hens by the final score of 4-2.
Lehigh Valley loses the series 4-2 but they snapped a three-game losing streak. They finished the afternoon with seven hits, went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Jeremy Walker earned his fifth win of the season for Lehigh Valley and Bowden made his third save of the year, while the loss went to Toledo pitcher Aneurys Zabala.
Lehigh Valley’s bullpen did a good job not allowing any more runs. Andrew Bellatti, Taylor Lehman, Jeremy Walker, Connor Brogdon, and Ben Bowden combined pitching five innings, allowing two hits, and seven strikeouts.
Lehigh Valley is headed back on the road next week visiting Polar Park on Tuesday to start a six-game series against the Worcester Red Sox at 6:45 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
