The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (47-43) and the Toledo Mud Hens (39-53) played game three of a six-game series on Thursday night from Fifth Third Field. The IronPigs are 2-0 in this series.
On Wednesday night, Lehigh Valley extended their winning to six games which has not been done since 2018, and they are 7-3 in their last ten games.
Before the game started, the Philadelphia Phillies sent first baseman Darick Hall back to Lehigh Valley. Drew Hutchison (1-2, 7.30 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Toledo’s Bryan Sammons (0-2, 6.26 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Weston Wilson put the ball down for a base hit to center field with Jake Cave due up to bat. However, during Cave’s at-bat, Wilson was caught stealing second base for the second straight game. Then, Cave hit a double to the corner of right field with one out. Nick Podkul struck out swinging and Dustin Peterson flies out toward right fielder Grant Witherspoon which ended the inning.
At the top of the second inning with one out, Jim Haley laid down a bunt away from pitcher Bryan Sammons. While Sammons did retrieve the ball, Haley hustled toward the first base bag for a single. Rafael Marchan was next to bat.
Rafael Marchan singled on a line drive to center field which moved Haley up to second base. Two batters later with two outs, Esteban Quiroz worked a four-pitch walk which loaded the bases for Weston Wilson. Unfortunately, Wilson struck out swinging which ended the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Tyler Nevin hit his 14th double of the season on a sharp line drive to center fielder Simon Muzziotti. Two batters later with one out, Donny Sands grounded towards shortstop Scott Kingery. Kingery charged for the ball before throwing it to first baseman Jake Cave while Nevin moved to third base. Grant Witherspoon was up next with two outs.
During his at-bat, Lehigh Valley pitcher Drew Hutchison threw a low pitch that passed by Rafael Marchan and Tyler Nevin scored. It was 1-0 Toledo. Hutchison walked Witherspoon before getting Johan Camargo to fly out toward right fielder Dustin Peterson that retired the side.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, Esteban Quiroz and Weston Wilson hit singles to start the inning. Lehigh Valley could not find a way to bring them home when Jake Cave and Nick Podkul lined out, and Dustin Peterson grounded toward third baseman Colt Keith, who made the throw to first baseman Joe Rizzo that ended the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley pitcher Drew Hutchison walked Nick Solak. Next, he struck out Colt Keith before getting Tyler Nevin to fly out toward center fielder Simon Muzziotti for the second out. Then, he struck out Joe Rizzo which ended the inning. Outside of the passed ball, Hutchison pitched a good game going six innings, allowing three hits, one run, two walks, and eight strikeouts throwing 92 pitches, of which 58 were strikes.
At the top of the seventh inning, Sam Clay was the new Toledo pitcher. Scott Kingery started the inning putting the ball down for a single to center field. Then, Esteban Quiroz grounded into a double play for two outs, with Weston Wilson due up to bat.
Wilson hit Clay’s cutter for a solo home run over the wall at center field which tied the game 1-1. It was Wilson’s third straight home run in this series. He now has 23 home runs and 61 RBIs this year. Then Jake Cave flies out toward left fielder Tyler Nevin which ended the inning.
Taylor Lehman was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. He gave up a single to Donny Sands before getting Grant Witherspoon to hit a ground ball toward shortstop Scott Kingery for a 6-4-3 double play. Then, He gave up a hit to Johan Camargo on a sharp ground ball passed third baseman Esteban Quiroz.
Camargo tried to reach second base but Quiroz threw the ball in time to second baseman Jim Haley to tag out Camargo for the final out of the inning. Lehman threw four pitches, of which three were strikes. Ben Bowden pitched the bottom of the eighth inning.
Bowden gave up a double to John Valente before striking out Parker Meadows. Next, Bowden walked Nick Solak, followed by back-to-back strikeouts against Colt Keith and Tyler Nevin that ended the inning. Bowden threw 21 pitches in the inning, of which 15 were strikes.
At the top of the ninth inning, the IronPigs broke through to take the lead. Miguel Diaz was the new pitcher for Toledo. Rafael Marchan started the inning with a single. Two batters later with one out, Diaz hit Esteban Quiroz, followed by walking Weston Wilson. Jake Cave was up next with the bases loaded. Cave fell behind 1-2 but kept fighting the count. With the count 2-2, Cave put the ball down for a base hit to right field which scored Marchan for a 2-1 lead.
Next, Diaz walked Nick Podkul which made it 3-1 with Dustin Peterson next. Peterson busted the game open with a two-run single to center field that scored Wilson and Cave for a 5-1 lead. After that, Diaz was replaced by Rony Garcia. Garcia walked Simon Muzziotti before Jim Haley brought Nick Podkul home with a sacrifice fly to left field. It was now 6-1 Lehigh Valley.
Cal Stevenson was next but Garcia walked him with Scott Kingery due up to bat. Kingery hit a high fly ball to right field which cleared the bases for a three-run double. It was 9-1 Lehigh Valley and Kingery’s 13th double of the season. Kingery now has 33 RBIs of the year. The inning came to an end when Esteban Quiroz grounded out toward first baseman Joe Rizzo for the third out.
Connor Brogdon closed out the game for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the ninth inning. He gave up a single to Joe Rizzo. Then, he got Donny Sands to fly out toward left fielder Weston Wilson before striking out Grant Witherspoon.
Johan Camargo was next. During his at-bat, Joe Rizzo advanced to second base on a defensive indifference call. Then, Camargo put the ball down for a base hit to center field that scored Rizzo. It was now 9-2 Lehigh Valley. John Valente was next for Toledo. Brogdon struck him out which ended the game.
The IronPigs defeated the Mud Hens by the final score of 9-2. It is Lehigh Valley’s seventh straight win which has not happened since 2017. Lehigh Valley finished the night with 13 hits, 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base.
Ben Bowden won his fourth game of the season for Lehigh Valley, while Miguel Diaz lost his fourth game of the year for Toledo.
The IronPigs and Mud Hens play game four on Friday 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.
