The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (62-52, 26-14) and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (56-60, 24-18) played game three of a six-game series on Thursday night from Coca-Cola Park. The series was tied at one apiece.
Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies sent outfielder Brandon Marsh to Lehigh Valley to begin his rehab assignment. He was in the lineup as the designated hitter.
Nick Nelson (5-2, 4.05 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his 14th start against Jacksonville’s Edward Cabrera (2-0, 1.50 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Nelson gave up a double to Xavier Edwards to begin the game. Two batters later with one out, Nelson threw a fastball at Troy Johnston and he hit it for a double to left field. Edwards rounded the third base to score and Jacksonville took a 1-0 lead.
Two batters later with two outs, Nelson hit Dane Myers before getting Peyton Burdick to line out toward center fielder Cristian Pache, who made the catch to end the inning.
Lehigh Valley threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning. Brandon Marsh started the inning with a single to right field with Cristian Pache up to bat. During his at-bat, Marsh stole second base and the crowd cheered. However, Pache hit into a 5-3 double play.
Next, Darick Hall put the ball down for a base hit to right field, followed by a Kody Clemens walk with two outs for Simon Muzziotti. Muzziotti singled on a line drive to left field. Darick Hall tried to score from second base but got caught by a mile for the final out of the inning.
Lehigh Valley got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Scott Kingery put the ball down for a base hit to shortstop Xavier Edwards. Next, Cal Stevenson singled to second baseman Garrett Hampson with Kingery running to third base. Brandon Marsh was up to bat.
During his plate appearance, Stevenson stole second base. Marsh hit Cabrera’s sinker for a fly ball down the left field line which the ball bounced into the seats for a ground-rule double. Kingery and Stevenson scored to put the IronPigs up 2-1.
After Cristian Pache was hit by a pitch, Darick Hall grounded toward first baseman Troy Johnston, who tossed the ball to Cabrera for the final out of the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Vally had a chance to add to their lead. Brandon Marsh and Cristian Pache both worked four-pitch walks.
Two batters later with one out, Kody Clemens flies out toward left fielder Griffin Conine. The ball was deep enough to move both runners up a base. Unfortunately, Simon Muzziotti popped out toward shortstop Xavier Edwards which ended the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, Jacksonville almost tied the game. Jorge Alfaro started the inning with a single to left field with Dane Myers up to bat. Myers hit the ball toward third baseman Esteban Quiroz, who threw a low ball to Kody Clemens and he missed the catch that should’ve been a double play. Instead, Alfaro ran to third base and Quiroz was charged with the error.
Nelson stayed calm to get Peyton Burdick to pop out toward second baseman Kody Clemens, followed by Jordan Groshans hitting into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. That was it for Nelson, who finished the night pitching six innings, allowing six hits, one run, one earned run, two walks, and three strikeouts in 89 pitches, of which 56 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley had another chance to add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Edward Cabrera walked Esteban Quiroz. Two batters later, he walked Cal Stevenson before Jacksonville changed pitchers with Josh Simpson replacing Cabrera.
Then, Simpson walked Brandon Marsh who loaded the bases for Cristian Pache. Pache was called out on strikes which ended the inning.
Connor Brogdon was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the seventh inning. He gave up a double to Charles Leblanc with one out, followed by a single from Xavier Edwards.
Brogdon kept his compose to strike out Garrett Hampson and get Troy Johnston to fly out toward center fielder Cristian Pache which ended the inning. Brogdon struck out two batters throwing 15 pitches, of which 12 were strikes.
Jeremy Walker was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the eighth inning. Walker made quick work to get Jorge Alfaro to line out toward Esteban Quiroz, struck out Dane Myers on a foul tip, and Peyton Burdick lines out toward left fielder Simon Muzziotti which ended the inning. Walker threw nine pitches, of which seven were strikes.
Tyler McKay was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. McKay got back-to-back ground outs from Jordan Groshans and Griffin Conine before striking out Charles Leblanc which ended the game.
The IronPigs defeated the Jumbo Shrimp by the final score of 2-1. Lehigh Valley finished the night with seven hits, went 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base. Lehigh Valley pitcher Nick Nelson earned his sixth win of the season and Edward Cabrera lost his first game of the year for Jacksonville.
The IronPigs and Jumbo Shrimp 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.
