After two brutal games in Moosic, Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (40-43) returned to PNC Field for game three against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (41-42) on Friday night. The IronPigs came into this game outscored 32-2 in two games against the RailRiders. The game started an hour and a half late due to a passing thunderstorm.
Bailey Falter (2-0, 5.79 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his eighth start of the season against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Zach Greene (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who was making his first start of the season in Triple-A.
For the second straight game, the IronPigs struck first at the top of the first inning. Zach Greene walked Jake Cave to start the inning with Drew Ellis up to bat. Ellis put the ball in play for an RBI double to left field that scored Cave for a 1-0 lead.
Kody Clemens was next. He singled on a line drive to center field which scored Ellis for a 2-0 lead with nobody out. With one out and Jordan Qsar batting, Clemens stole second base before running to third base on a throwing error by catcher Carlos Narvaez. Jordan Qsar lined out toward shortstop Jesus Bastidas and Rafael Marchan struck out which ended the inning.
At the top of the third inning, Jake Cave grounded out and Drew Ellis lined out for two outs. Jake Cave argued a call and was ejected from the game. Taking over center field was Simon Muzziotti. Kody Clemens was next but he was called out on strikes that ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley added more runs. D.J. Snelten was pitching for the RailRiders. He hit Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia to start the inning, followed by walking Scott Kingery. Simon Muzziotti was next. He doubled on a line drive to right field which scored Garcia for a 3-0 lead. It was Muzziotti’s 15th double of the year. Next, the bases were loaded when Snelten walked Drew Ellis.
Two batters later with one out, Dustin Peterson ripped the ball to center field which scored Kingery and Muzziotti for a 5-0 lead. It was Peterson’s seventh double of the season.
After Jordan Qsar was walked, The RailRiders changed pitchers with Michael Gomez taking over for D.J. Snelten. Two batters later with two outs, Esteban Quiroz put the ball down for a base with a two-run single to right field which scored Ellis and Peterson for a 7-0 lead. Then, Michael Gomez walked Aramis Garcia before striking out Scott Kingery that ended the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Jacob Barnes was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher. Bailey Falter pitched a good game going five innings, allowing three hits, one walk, and three strikeouts in 83 pitches, of which 48 were strikes.
Barnes gave up a single to Everson Pereira with one out. Two batters later with two outs, Carlos Narvaez singled on a ground ball to center field which scored Pereira. It was now 7-1 Lehigh Valley. Then, Barnes got Jamie Westbrook to ground out toward him. Barnes turned to throw the ball toward first baseman Kody Clemens for the final out of the inning.
Francisco Morales was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher in the bottom of the seventh inning. He walked Wilmer Difo with two outs, followed by a single from Brandon Lockridge, and walked Oswald Peraza which loaded the bases for Everson Pereira.
Pereira singled on a line drive to left field which scored Difo and Lockridge. It was now 7-3 Lehigh Valley with two outs. Taylor Lehman replaced Morales and got Andres Chaparro to pop out toward shortstop Scott Kingery for the final out of the inning.
All season long, Morales has had problems controlling the ball when he is throwing a pitch. He is making too many mistakes and the coaches have to do a better helping him throw the baseball.
Lehigh Valley had a four-run lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. However, that lead disappeared. Connor Brogdon was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher. He hit Carlos Narvaez and Jamie Westbrook to begin the inning, followed by walking Jesus Bastidas.
The bases were loaded for Michael Hermosillo. He tied the game hitting Brogdon’s fastball for a grand slam over the wall at left field that tied the game 7-7. Brogdon stayed in the game to get the three outs without allowing another run. Like Morales, Brogdon had problems finding the strike zone and not controlling his throws. The game remained tied heading to extra innings.
At the top of the tenth inning, Greg Weissert was pitching for the RailRiders with Weston Wilson starting the inning at second base. With one out, Scott Kingery brought Wilson home with an RBI double to left field to put Lehigh Valley back in the lead 8-7.
It was a nice piece of hitting by Kingery to find an open area not covered by the defenders. Simon Muzziotti and Drew Ellis struck out which ended the inning.
Ben Bowden pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the tenth inning with Jamie Westbrook starting at second base. He got back-to-back groundouts from Jesus Bastidas and Michael Hermosillo. Wilmer Difo was next. Bowden threw a fastball and Difo got all of it for a game-winning two-run home run into the RailRiders’ bullpen to win the game. The IronPigs lost the game to the RailRiders by the final score of 9-8.
Lehigh Valley’s bullpen has now blown 42 saves this year which leads the International League. In addition, they are now on a three-game losing streak and 4-6 in their last ten games. Lehigh Valley must win these last two games for a chance to split the series.
What a way to waste a quality start from Bailey Falter. Lehigh Valley finished the night with ten hits, 6-19 with runners in scoring position, and left ten men on base.
Ben Bowden lost his second game for the IronPigs, while Greg Weissert won his third game of the year for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The IronPigs and RailRiders play game five on Saturday at 6:05 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
