The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (50-46, 14-9) and the Syracuse Mets (41-56, 8-15) played game three of a six-game series on Thursday night from Coca-Cola Park. The series is tied at one apiece which makes it 9-4 for Lehigh Valley in the overall series.
Shaun Anderson (0-0, 4.50 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his second start of the season against Syracuse’s Mike Vasil (1-1, 6.94 ERA).
Lehigh Valley struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Drew Ellis hit a double on a line drive to center field with two outs. Esteban Quiroz was next. He singled off Vasil’s breaking ball for a base hit to center field and round third base was Drew Ellis which put Lehigh Valley up 1-0.
Dustin Peterson grounded out toward third baseman Jose Peraza, who threw the ball to first baseman Luke Voit for the final out of the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the third inning, Lehigh Valley center fielder Simon Muzziotti hit a fly ball toward right fielder Rafael Ortega. The ball bounced off Ortega’s glove as he crashed hard into the wall and Muzziotti ran to third base for his fourth triple of the season.
Weston Wilson was next. He brought Muzziotti home with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 2-0 Lehigh Valley lead. After a single by Darick Hall with two outs, Aramis Garcia grounded into a force out at second base which ended the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Luke Voit hit his fifth consecutive home run to cut Lehigh Valley’s lead to 2-1. He is the second Syracuse player since 1961 to homer in five consecutive games, tying Corey Brown who accomplished the feat in 2012 from May 20th to May 25th.
Then, Anderson gave up a single to Abraham Almonte and walked Jonathan Arauz before he was replaced by Brett Schulze, who was making his Triple-A debut. Schulze was 5-5, with a 4.41 ERA, allowed 17 runs, 16 walks, three home runs, and 53 strikeouts in 34.2 innings playing 31 games for the Reading Fightin’ Phils.
Two batters later with one out, Schulze gave up a single to Carlos Cortez who scored Almonte which tied the game at 2-2. Then, he struck out Jose Peraza and got Michael Perez to ground out toward first baseman Darick Hall which ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley threatened to regain the lead. Mike Vasil walked Jordan Qsar to start the inning. Three batters later with two outs, he gave up a single to Dustin Peterson, followed by walking Scott Kingery which loaded the bases for Simon Muzziotti. Muzziotti popped out toward shortstop Jonathan Arauz which ended the inning.
Braden Zarbnisky was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley making his Triple-A debut from Reading. In Reading, Zarbnisky was 5-1, with a 2.97 ERA, allowed 13 runs, six home runs, 16 walks, 47 strikeouts, and one save in 39.1 innings playing 30 games.
He gave up two straight singles to Rafael Ortega and Ronny Mauricio, followed by walking Luke Voit, and the bases were loaded for Abraham Almonte. However, just before Almonte could step in the batter’s box, the skies opened up and rain began to fall on the field which prompt a rain delay. After 53 minutes, the game was suspended.
The game resumed on Friday evening with Andrew Bellatti pitching for Lehigh Valley. After striking out Abraham Almonte, Bellatti walked Jonathan Arauz which made it 3-2, and hit Luke Voit to force in another run. It was now 4-2 Syracuse. Then, Bellatti struck out Nick Meyer and got Jose Peraza to fly out toward right fielder Jordan Qsar that retired the side. Noah Skirrow pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the sixth inning.
Skirrow walked Rafael Ortega and Ronny Mauricio with one out for Luke Voit. During Voit’s at-bat, Ortega and Mauricio stole second and third base. Skirrow struck out Voit with Abraham Almonte up next. Almonte hit Skirrow’s fastball for a three-run home run over the wall at right field for a 7-2 lead. Skirrow got Jonathan Arauz to ground out toward Weston Wilson, who made the throw to first baseman Darick Hall for the final out of the inning.
Lehigh Valley cut Syracuse’s lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Syracuse pitcher Eric Orze walked Jordan Qsar. Three batters later with two outs, Dustin Peterson put the ball down for a base hit to right field which scored Qsar. It was 7-3 Syracuse. Next, Scott Kingery doubled to center field to bring home Peterson and it was now 7-4.
Then, Eric Orze walked Simon Muzziotti before Weston Wilson put the ball down for a base hit. The ball bounced off Syracuse third baseman Jose Peraza’s glove and Kingery scored. Syracuse’s lead was down to 7-5 with Darick Hall next.
The Mets changed pitchers with Nate Lavender in for Orze. During Hall’s at-bat, Wilson stole second base and Muzziotti stole home which made it 7-6 Syracuse. It was Wilson’s 22nd stolen base and Muzziotti’s 23rd stolen base of the year. Darick Hall flies out toward center fielder Rafael Ortega which ended the inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, Noah Skirrow loaded the bases with one out and Rafael Ortega batting. He got Ortega to ground toward second baseman Esteban Quiroz for a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Aramis Garcia and Jordan Qsar singled to start the inning. However, a Drew Ellis pop-out, followed by back-to-back strikeouts from Esteban Quiroz and Dustin Peterson ended the inning.
At the top of the eighth inning, Syracuse added insurance runs. Noah Skirrow gave up back-to-back singles to Ronny Mauricio and Luke Voit, which moved Mauricio to third base. Next, Abraham Almonte brought Mauricio home with a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jordan Qsar that made it 8-6.
Two batters later, Luke Ritter put the ball down for a base hit in front of left fielder Weston Wilson as Voit ran to second base. Then, Nick Meyer brought Voit home with a single to center field for a 9-6 lead with two outs. Jose Peraza flies out toward center fielder Simon Muzziotti which ended the inning. Taylor Lehman was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Lehman threw 13 pitches to get three outs including two strikeouts.
Lehigh Valley had one more chance in the bottom of the ninth inning. Darick Hall started the inning with a pop-up single. Nobody from the Mets side called for the ball and it dropped in between three Syracuse players. Next, Aramis Garcia struck out swinging before the Mets changed pitchers with Dennis Santana in for Nate Lavender.
Before Santana could throw a pitch, the IronPigs had Jim Haley pinch-hit for Jordan Qsar but then changed their mind and had Kody Clemens hit for Qsar. However, Santana struck out Qsar and got Drew Ellis to fly out toward center fielder Rafael Ortega which ended the game.
The IronPigs lost to the Mets by the final score of 9-6. Lehigh Valley finished the game with 12 hits, went 3 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Braden Zarbnisky lost his first game for Lehigh Valley, while Nate Lavender won his third game of the season for Syracuse.
The IronPigs and Mets played game four on Friday 30 minutes after this game. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
