The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (47-44) took on the Toledo Mud Hens (40-53) in game four of a six-game series on Friday night from Fifth Third Field.
The IronPigs lead the series 3-0 with a chance to clinch it with two games to go. Lehigh Valley has outscored Toledo 18-6 in this series. They continued their hot start into the second half going 7-3 in their last ten games including a seven-game winning streak.
Shaun Anderson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound making his Lehigh Valley debut. He signed with the Phillies a couple of days ago from the KBO’s Kia Tigers, who released him two weeks.
During his stint with the Tigers, Anderson went 4-7, with eight quality starts, a 3.76 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 64 strikeouts, allowed 42 runs, 33 earned runs, six home runs, and 26 walks in 79 innings. Starting for Toledo was Joey Wentz (0-1, 4.38 ERA).
Before the game started, the Philadelphia Phillies recalled outfielder Jake Cave from Lehigh Valley and sent infielders Drew Ellis and Darick Hall back to Lehigh Valley.
As for Kody Clemens, he was never called up and instead was given a rest day on Thursday. In addition, the Phillies sent RHP Seranthony Dominguez and RHP Noah Song to Lehigh Valley for their rehab starts.
At the top of the second inning, Joey Wentz walked Jim Haley with one out for Simon Muzziotti. During Muzziotti’s at-bat, Jim Haley stole second base. Then, Muzziotti put the ball down for a base hit to right field with Haley being waived around from third base to score for a 1-0 lead. It was Muzziotti’s 43rd RBI of the season.
Two batters later with two outs, Aramis Garcia was up to bat. During his at-bat, Muzziotti stole second base. Next, Garcia hit Wentz’s fastball for a base hit to left field which brought home Muzziotti for a 2-0 lead. It was Garcia’s 13th RBI of the season. Jordan Qsar was next but he was called out on strikes that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Shaun Anderson gave up a single to Michael Papierski before being replaced by Francisco Morales. Anderson should have continued in this game. He was doing a good job on the mound but the IronPigs manager wanted his bullpen to get some work in and this would come back to bite him. Anderson’s night ended pitching two innings, allowing two hits, one run, and two strikeouts in 37 pitches, of which 24 were strikes.
Morales gave up a double to Corey Joyce before Parker Meadows tied the game 2-2 with a two-run double to right field. Next, Donny Sands singled to left field which scored Parker Meadows to take a 3-2 lead with nobody out. Then, Morales got Colt Keith to line out toward left fielder Dustin Peterson, and Tyler Nevin to ground out toward third baseman Kody Clemens, who threw the ball to first baseman Nick Podkul.
Johan Camargo was next with two outs with Donny Sands at third base. Morales got Camargo to ground out toward Scott Kingery, who threw the ball to Nick Podkul that ended the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Scott Kingery singled on a ground ball to second baseman Corey Joyce, followed by a double from Aramis Garcia which moved Kingery to third base. Jordan Qsar was next with a chance to either tie the game or put Lehigh Valley back in the lead but he lined out toward shortstop Johan Camargo which ended the inning.
Seranthony Dominguez pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the fourth inning. He gave up a single to Grant Witherspoon before striking out Andrew Knapp.
Then, he walked Michael Papierski. Dominguez struck out Corey Joyce before getting Parker Meadows to line out toward center fielder Simon Muzziotti which ended the inning. Dominguez threw 17 pitches, of which 11 were strikes.
Noah Skirrow took over for Dominguez in the bottom of the fifth inning. He faced Donny Sands to start the inning. On a 1-2 count, Skirrow tried to get Sands with a fastball but he got all of it for a solo run over the wall at left field that made it 4-2 Toledo.
It was Sands’s third home run of the year. Next, Skirrow struck out Colt Keith, a flyout by Tyler Nevin, and a ground out from Johan Camargo which ended the inning.
Since scoring the two runs in the second inning, Lehigh Valley’s offense went quiet with five hits including a double by Weston Wilson. It was his 15th double of the year.
Lehigh Valley had one more chance at the top of the ninth inning to get back into the game. They had to face Trey Wingenter. Unfortunately, Wingenter struck out the side to end the game. Lehigh Valley’s seven-game winning streak came to an end with the final score of 4-2. Toledo’s pitching retired ten Lehigh Valley players in a row.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with seven hits, went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Francisco Morales lost his second game of the season for Lehigh Valley, and Joey Wentz won his first game of the year for Toledo.
The IronPigs and Mud Hens play game five on Saturday 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.
