The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (50-45) and Syracuse Mets (40-56) played game two on Wednesday from Coca-Cola Park. The Mets lead the series 1-0.
After the IronPigs lost to the Mets 10-3 on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Phillies announced that Andrew Bellatti was optioned back to Lehigh Valley after they activated Seranthony Dominguez from his rehab assignment.
Drew Hutchison (1-2, 5.87 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his eighth start of the season against Syracuse’s Jose Butto (2-4, 5.81 ERA).
In the bottom of the first inning, Lehigh Valley center fielder Simon Muzziotti reached first base on a fielding error by first baseman Luke Voit. Two batters later, Weston Wilson was next with one out. He worked the count to 3-0 before hitting Butto’s fastball for a two-run home run onto the berm at left-center field for a 2-0 lead.
It was Wilson’s 25th home run of the season and 64th RBI of the year. The home run tied Memphis’s Luken Baker for the lead in the International League.
With two outs, Jordan Qsar and Aramis Garcia hit singles before Esteban Quiroz flies out toward left fielder Ronny Mauricio for the final out of the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the third inning, the IronPigs busted this game open. With one out, Jose Butto walked Jordan Qsar followed by a double from Aramis Garcia. It was Garcia’s sixth double of the year. Esteban Quiroz was next. He hit Butto’s changeup for a two-run single to center field which scored Qsar and Garcia for a 4-0 lead.
Next, Nick Podkul grounded into a forceout at second base for the second out, followed by Butto walking Cal Stevenson. Simon Muzziotti was next. He put the ball down for a base hit to center field to bring home Podkul for a 5-0 lead with Kody Clemens next. Clemens singled on a sharp line drive to center field which scored Cal Stevenson for a 6-0 lead.
After Butto walked Weston Wilson, the Mets changed pitchers with Vinny Nittoli replacing Butto and Darick Hall faced him with the bases loaded. Nittoli walked Hall and Jordan Qsar to force in two runs. It was 8-0 Lehigh Valley with two outs for Aramis Garcia. Nittoli threw a breaking ball at Garcia and he crushed it for a grand slam onto the berm at center field which made it 12-0.
It was the first grand slam for the IronPigs this year. For Garcia, it was his fifth home run of the year and 19th RBI of the season. Esteban Quiroz flies out toward center fielder Rafael Ortega that ended the inning. The IronPigs batted around and scored ten runs.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, the Mets started to cut the IronPigs’ lead. Drew Hutchison walked Carlos Cortes and Nick Meyer to begin the inning. Hutchison was replaced by Taylor Lehman. Lehman walked Tomas Nido which loaded the bases for Rafael Ortega.
Ortega hit a ground ball toward first baseman Darick Hall for the first out but Carlos Cortes scored. It was now 12-1 Lehigh Valley. It was Ronny Mauricio’s turn to bat. During his at-bat, Lehman threw a wild pitch which brought home another run for the Mets. The score was now 12-2 and Lehman walked Mauricio.
Luke Voit was next for Syracuse. He crushed Lehman’s fastball that hit the roof of the Tiki Bar at left field for a three-run home run. It was 12-5 Lehigh Valley. Lehman got out of the inning when he struck out Abraham Almonte and a pop-out from Jonathan Arauz which was caught by catcher Aramis Garcia.
Drew Hutchison finished the night pitching four innings allowing one hit, three runs, five walks, and seven strikeouts in 87 pitches, of which 47 were strikes. Lehman went an inning, allowing one hit, two runs, one walk, and one strikeout in 19 pitches, of which nine were strikes.
At the top of the sixth inning, Noah Song was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. Luke Ritter started the inning hitting Song’s fastball for a solo home run over the wall at center field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was down to 12-6. Two batters later with one out, Song walked Nick Meyer before he got Tomas Nido to ground into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
At the top of the seventh inning, the Mets got closer. Noah Song gave up a single to Rafael Ortega. Two batters later with one out, he walked Luke Voit, followed by a single from Abraham Almonte to bring home Ortega. It was 12-7 Lehigh Valley. Next, Song loaded the bases when he walked Jonathan Arauz. Noah Song was replaced by Ben Bowden.
Bowden walked Luke Ritter which forced in a run that made it 12-8, followed by a two-run single from Carlos Cortes to center field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was down to 12-10. The crowd at Coca-Cola Park was not pleased at all. After all, Syracuse came back trailing 8-0 to beat Lehigh Vally 13-8 on June 11th.
Bowden walked Nick Meyer before striking out Tomas Nido. Then, he walked Rafael Ortega to force in another run. It was now 12-11 Lehigh Valley. Bowden got out of the inning when he struck out Ronny Mauricio.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jimmy Yacabonis was the new pitcher for Syracuse. He walked Darick Hall and Jordan Qsar with one out for Aramis Garcia. Garcia put the ball down for a base hit to center field which scored Hall for a 13-11 lead.
Next, Esteban Quiroz brought Qsar home with a ground out toward second baseman Luke Ritter, who threw the ball to first baseman Luke Voit for the second out. It was now 14-11 Lehigh Valley. Nick Podkul flies out toward center fielder Rafael Ortega which ended the inning.
Connor Brogdon closed out the game for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Brogdon struck out Luke Ritter and Carlos Cortes. Nick Meyer lines out toward a diving Weston Wilson, who made a great catch that ended the game. The IronPigs survived to beat the Mets by the final score of 14-11.
This game should not have been close. The bullpen nearly blew this game and walked 11 Syracuse players of which three scored. Luckily the offense added insurance runs to give them the win. Aramis Garcia had a big night going 4-5 with a grand slam and five RBIs.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 11 hits, went 5 of 14 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Luis Ortiz won his third game of the year, and Jose Butto lost his fifth game of the season for Syracuse.
The IronPigs and Mets 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.
