The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (44-43) concluded a three-game series on Sunday afternoon against the Charlotte Knights (37-52) from Coca-Cola Park. Lehigh Valley was looking to extend their winning streak to four games. The good news before the game was that the Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Luis Ortiz back to Lehigh Valley, giving them an extra arm in the bullpen.
Bailey Falter (2-0, 4.91 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his ninth start of the season against Charlotte’s Nate Fisher (5-9, 5.70 ERA). The game started ten minutes late due to a passing shower.
The game was scoreless in the first three innings until the bottom of the fourth inning. Jim Haley singled to center field with one out with Esteban Quiroz up to bat. During Quiroz’s at-bat, Haley stole second base. It was his 12th stolen base of the year. Charlotte pitcher Nate Fisher walked Quiroz.
After striking out Aramis Garcia, Fisher was replaced by Nicholas Padilla. Vito Friscia was up next for Lehigh Valley. He put the ball down for a base hit to right field scoring Jim Haley for a 1-0 Lehigh Valley lead. Weston Wilson had a chance to keep the inning going but flies out to center fielder Clint Frazier for the final out of the inning.
Moving to the top of the sixth inning, Charlotte’s Yolbert Sanchez hit the ball toward a charging second baseman Kody Clemens. Clemens picked up the ball and overthrew it to first baseman Nick Podkul. He was charged with an error and Sanchez advanced to second base.
Next, Falter walked Clint Frazier before getting Yoan Moncada to pop out toward first baseman Nick Podkul, who made the catch before throwing the ball to third baseman Esteban Quiroz. Victor Reyes was next. He brought Sanchez home with a sacrifice fly to right-center field that tied the game 1-1.
The run ended Lehigh Valley’s 24 and two-thirds-inning scoreless streak. Falter struck out Lenyn Sosa to end the inning. That was it for Falter. He pitched a quality game going six innings, allowing four hits, one run, one walk, and five strikeouts in 83 pitches, of which 60 were strikes. Ben Bowden pitched at the top of the seventh inning. He needed nine pitches to get three outs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley broke the tie. Ben Holmes was the new pitcher for Charlotte. He walked Dustin Peterson with one out, followed by a single from Nick Podkul. Next, Holmes walked Simon Muzziotti that loaded the bases for Jim Haley.
Haley brought Peterson home with a sacrifice fly toward right fielder Victor Reyes. It was 2-1 Lehigh Valley. Esteban Quiroz was next. He hit the ball off the wall at right-center field which scored Podkul and Muzziotti for a 4-1 lead.
It was Quiroz’s 12th double of the year and 34th RBI of the season. Aramis Garcia popped out toward second baseman Lenyn Sosa for the final out of the inning. Jeremy Walker was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the eighth inning. He threw 17 pitches to get three outs.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley added insurance runs. Lane Ramsey was the new pitcher for Charlotte. Vito Friscia was the first to face Ramsey. He put the ball down for a base hit to center field. Two batters later with one out, Ramsey walked Kody Clemens.
Next, Ramsey got Dustin Peterson to fly out toward left fielder Kean Wong for the second out. Charlotte changed pitchers again with Edgar Navarro replacing Ramsey. Navarro walked Nick Podkul. The bases were now loaded for Simon Muzziotti.
He doubled on a sharp line drive to right field that scored Friscia and Clemens for a 6-1 lead. It was Muzziotti’s 17th double of the year. He now has 41 RBIs for the season.
Jim Haley was next with two outs. He hit the ball softly toward a charging shortstop Erik Gonzales and beat his throw to first base while Podkul scored for a 7-1 lead. Esteban Quiroz grounded out toward pitcher Edgar Navarro for the final out of the inning.
Connor Brogdon closed out the game for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. With two outs and Sebastian Rivero batting, Rivero hit the ball toward third baseman Esteban Quiroz. Quiroz made a nice leaping catch to end the game.
Lehigh Valley sweeps the Charlotte Knights by the final score of 7-1. The IronPigs outscored Charlotte 19-1 in this series. In addition, Lehigh Valley extends its winning streak to four games.
Lehigh Valley finished the afternoon with 11 hits, went 4 of 13 with runners in scoring position, and left 12 men on base. Ben Bowden earned his third win of the season, and Ben Holmes lost his first game of the season.
Lehigh Valley hits the road for a six-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens starting on Tuesday 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.
