The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (46-43) returned to Fifth Third Field on Wednesday night against the Toledo Mud Hens (39-52) in game two of a six-game series. The IronPigs lead this series 1-0.
Lehigh Valley have been trending in the right direction as of late on a five-game winning streak and are 6-4 in their last ten games. Since the All-Star break, the IronPigs have outscored opponents 23-4 in four games.
Nick Nelson (2-1, 3.73 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his ninth start of the season against Toledo’s Jack O’Loughlin (1-2, 5.03 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley struck first when Weston Wilson hit Jack O’Loughlin’s first pitch fastball for a solo home run over the wall at right field. It was 1-0 Lehigh Valley. It was Wilson’s 22nd home run of the year and 60 RBI of the season. The IronPigs did not add any more runs in the inning.
Moving to the top of the second inning, Lehigh Valley continued the firepower. Nick Podkul started the inning with a single. Two batters later with one out, Jim Haley smashed O’Loughlin’s fastball for a two-run home run off the scoreboard at left field, making it 3-0 Lehigh Valley.
It was Haley’s sixth home run of the season and 34th RBI of the year. The home run went 108 mph off the bat and 401 feet. Lehigh Valley could not add any more runs in the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Toledo would get one of the runs back when Parker Meadows hit a solo home run over the wall at right field. It was now 3-1 Lehigh Valley. Two batters later with one out, Nelson gave up a single to Colt Keith before getting Tyler Nevin to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Lehigh Valley got the run back at the top of the fourth inning. First baseman Nick Podkul hit O’Loughlin’s fastball for a solo home run over the wall at left field with one out. It was now 4-1 Lehigh Valley and the third home run of the night for the IronPigs.
The home run was Podkul’s second of the season and fifth RBI of the year. Simon Muzziotti lined out and Jim Haley struck out which ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia wanted to get in on the home action. He hit O’Loughlin’s first pitch fastball for a solo home run over the scoreboard at left field. It was 5-1 Lehigh Valley and Garcia’s fourth home run of the season with 12 RBIs. It was also the fourth home run of the night for Lehigh Valley.
Two batters later with two outs, O’Loughlin walked Jake Cave before he got caught trying to steal second base that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley pitcher Nick Nelson walked Colt Keith before getting Tyler Nevin to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. Then, he got Joe Rizzo to line out toward left fielder Simon Muzziotti for the final out of the inning.
Nelson pitched one more inning needing 11 pitches to get three outs. Nelson pitched a fantastic game going seven innings, allowing six hits, one run, three walks, and five strikeouts in 92 pitches, of which 56 were strikes. Jesus Cruz was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Cruz struck out Corey Joyce before getting Parker Meadows to fly out toward center fielder Jake Cave for the second out. Next, he walked Nick Solak with Colt Keith up to bat. Cruz got Keith to fly out toward left fielder Simon Muzziotti for the final out of the inning. Cruz threw 25 pitches.
At the top of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley threatened to add more runs. Braden Bristo was the Toledo pitcher. With two outs, Weston Wilson and Jake Cave hit singles. However, Dustin Pederson grounded into a force out at second base that ended the inning.
Tyler McKay closed out the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. He gave up a single to Tyler Nevin to start the inning. Next, Joe Rizzo lined out toward center fielder Jake Cave before McKay picked up back-to-back ground outs from Andrew Knapp and Grant Witherspoon that ended the game. The IronPigs defeated the Mud Hens by the final score of 5-1.
For the first time since 2018, the IronPigs extended their winning streak to six games. They finished the night with ten hits, went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Nick Nelson won his third game of the year, while Jack O’Loughlin lost his third game of the season.
The IronPigs and Mud Hens play game three on Thursday 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.
