The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (42-43) returned to action after five days off at Coca-Cola Park on Friday night against the Charlotte Knights (37-50) in their first meeting of the season. Lehigh Valley came into this game 5-5 in their last ten games and looking for their second straight win.
Earlier in the day, the Philadelphia Phillies recalled third baseman Drew Ellis from Lehigh Valley. Weston Wilson played third base tonight and Nick Podkul made his Triple-A debut playing first base. Podkul batted .285 with 47 hits, eight doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, and 35 RBIs in 45 games for the Reading Fightin’ Phils.
Nick Nelson (1-1, 4.62 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his eighth start against Charlotte’s Garrett Davila (2-4, 5.40 ERA).
Lehigh Valley struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Simon Muzziotti started the inning with a single and stole second base. Next, Garrett Davila hit Nick Podkul with Scott Kingery due up to bat. Kingery made a sacrifice bunt toward Davila. Davila picked up the ball and threw it to first baseman Nate Mondou who missed the catch. Kingery was safe at first base and an error was charged to Mondou.
Jim Haley was next. He put the ball down for a base hit off the glove of third baseman Yoan Moncada. Muzziotti and Podkul scored for a 2-0 lead with nobody out. Haley only got credit with one run due to a fielder’s choice.
Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia was next. He moved Kingery to third base with a flyout toward center fielder Adam Haseley. After Cal Stevenson walked the bases were loaded for Weston Wilson to do some damage. Unfortunately, he struck out swinging for the second out. Jake Cave was next but he grounded out toward second baseman Lenyn Sosa, who made the throw to first baseman Nate Mondou for the final out of the inning. Lehigh Valley ended the inning by leaving the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley extended their lead to 3-0 when Jim Haley hit Davila’s change-up line drive over the wall at left field. It was Haley’s fifth home run of the season and 28th RBI of the year.
Two batters later with one out, Davila walked Cal Stevenson, followed by a single from Weston Wilson. Two batters later with two outs, Davila walked Dustin Peterson which loaded the bases for Simon Muzziotti. Muzziotti hit the ball toward the corner of right field which scored Stevenson and Wilson for a 5-0 lead. It was Muzziotti’s 16th double and 39th RBI of the year.
Nick Podkul was next. Podkul hit Davila’s fastball for a three-run home run into the stands at left field for an 8-0 lead. Scott Kingery was next with two outs but he struck out which ended the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, Nick Nelson walked Victor Reyes with two outs before striking out Nate Mondou that ended the inning. Lehigh Valley pitcher Nick Nelson had one of his best games of the year. He pitched six innings, allowing four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts in 88 pitches, of which 60 were strikes. Tyler McKay (2-3, 2.54 ERA, 32 SO in Reading) was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the seventh inning making his Triple-A debut.
McKay pitched one inning, allowing one hit, and one walk in 14 pitches, of which seven were strikes. Lehigh Valley could’ve had him pitch another inning to save the bullpen but instead had Taylor Lehman pitch at the top of the eighth inning. He needed eight pitches to get three outs.
At the top of the ninth inning, Trey Cobb closed out the game for Lehigh Valley. He hit Victor Reyes that started the inning. Next, he struck out Nate Mondou before giving up a single to Stephen Piscotty. Finally, Cobb struck out Erik Gonzalez and Tyler Neslony to end the game.
Lehigh Valley shut out the Charlotte Knights by the final score of 8-0 for their second straight win. It is the fourth shutout of the season for Lehigh Valley. This was a nice way to start the second half of the season. Newcomer Nick Podkul had a nice debut going 2-3 with a three-run home run.
Lehigh Valley played a mistake-free game. They finished the night with seven hits, went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base. Nick Nelson picked up his second win of the season, while Garrett Davila lost his fifth game of the season.
Game two between the IronPigs and Knight is on Saturday at 6:35 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
