The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (61-52, 25-14) and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (56-59, 24-17) played game two of a six-game series on Wednesday night from Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs trailed the series 1-0.
Drew Hutchison (3-2, 5.48 ERA) was on the mound for the Lehigh Valley making his 11th start of the season against Jacksonville’s Ryan Weathers (1-0, 1.50 ERA).
The two pitchers engaged in a duel allowing a combined four hits through four innings. Lehigh Valley did not get a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning. Cristian Pache put the ball down for a base hit to right field with Kody Clemens up to bat. However, during his at-bat, Pache got caught stealing second base and Clemens struck out on a foul tip.
Dustin Peterson was next. He hit a single on a sharp line drive to left field. He tried to stretch it for a double but left fielder Peyton Burdick threw a dart to second baseman Xavier Edwards, who tagged Peterson out which ended the inning.
After four scoreless innings, Jacksonville struck first at the top of the fifth inning. Jacob Amaya singled on a ground ball to center field with one out. Two batters later with two outs, Jordan Groshans hit Hutchison’s fastball off the wall at right field. Amaya rounded third base to score and Groshans ran to second base for an RBI double.
It was 1-0 Jacksonville. Xavier Edwards was next. He grounded toward second baseman Kody Clemens, who threw the ball to first baseman Darick Hall for the final out of the inning.
Lehigh Valley got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Aramis Garcia hit his ninth double of the season on a line drive to right field. Simon Muzziotti was next.
On a 1-2 count, Muzziotti hit Weathers slider for a two-run home run over the wall at right field which put Lehigh Valley up 2-1. It was Muzziotti’s sixth home run of the season and the 50th RBI of the year. The home run went 374 feet with an exit velocity of 99 mph. He has now hit two home runs in two games.
Next, Drew Ellis grounded out toward third baseman Garrett Hampson, who threw the ball to first baseman Jordan Groshans, and Jordan Qsar flew out toward center fielder Dane Myers which ended the inning.
The lead did not last long in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Drew Hutchison gave up a single to Troy Johnston. Two batters later with two outs, Austin Allen was next to bat.
He put the ball down for a base hit past a diving Kody Clemens and into right field. Johnston rounded the third base to score and the game was now tied 2-2. Peyton Burdick was next. He lined out toward center fielder Simon Muzziotti, who made the catch to end the inning.
Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Andrew Bellatti was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. Drew Hutchison finished the night pitching seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs, two earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts in 95 pitches, of which 62 were strikes.
Bellatti gave up a single to Garrett Hampson before striking out Troy Johnston in which Hampson stole second base. Then, a flyout by Dane Myers toward center fielder Simon Muzziotti was deep enough to move Johnston to third base with Austin Allen up to bat.
During his at-bat, Bellatti threw a wild pitch which scored Johnston and Jacksonville took a 3-2 lead. Bellatti walked Allen with Peyton Burdick up to bat. Bellatti got Burdick to chase his cutter to strike him out which ended the inning. That was it for Bellatti, who threw 28 pitches, of which 15 were strikes.
Yunior Marte pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. He walked Jerar Encarnacion with one out and Jordan Groshans up to bat.
During his at-bat, Encarnacion tried to steal second base but Aramis Garcia threw a perfect ball toward second baseman Kody Clemens to tag Encarnacion out. Marte walked Groshans with two outs for Xavier Edwards. He struck out Edwards which ended the inning. Marte threw 23 pitches, of which 11 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley had more chance in the bottom of the ninth inning against Jacksonville pitcher Geoff Hartlieb. Kody Clemens started the inning putting the ball down for a base hit to right field with Dustin Peterson up to bat. On a 1-1 count, Hartlieb threw a sinker and Peterson got all of it for a two-run game-winning home run onto the berm at left-center field for a 4-3 win.
It was Peterson’s 14th home run of the year and 38th RBI of the season. In addition, this was Lehigh Valley’s fourth walk-off win of the season.
Peterson finished the night 2-4 with a home run and two RBIs. This was a nice comeback win that the IronPigs needed after Tuesday night’s game. Lehigh Valley finished the night with six hits, went 1 for 1 with a runner in scoring position, and left two men on base.
Drew Hutchison pitched a quality game despite giving up a couple of runs. Lehigh Valley pitcher Yunior Marte earned his second win for Lehigh Valley this year, and Geoff Hartlieb lost his fourth game for Jacksonville.
The IronPigs and Jumbo Shrimp 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.
