The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (74-59, 36-23) and the Buffalo Bisons (68-65, 34-34) played game three of a six-game series on Thursday night from Sahlen Field. The series was tied 1-1 after the IronPigs won in extra innings on Wednesday night.
Shaun Anderson (3-2, 5.35 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his ninth start of the season against Buffalo’s Paxton Schultz (3-4, 5.19 ERA).
Lehigh Valley got off to a terrific start at the top of the first inning. Simon Muzziotti started the inning by working a four-pitch walk. Two batters later, Darick Hall put the ball down for a base hit to right field moving Muzziotti to third base. Next, Paxton Schultz loaded the bases when he walked Dustin Peterson with Rafael Marchan up to bat.
The count was 3-1 when Schultz threw a fastball at Marchan and he crushed it for a grand slam over the wall at right field that put Lehigh Valley up 4-0. It was Marchan’s second home run of the season with now 29 RBIs. The home run went 372 feet with an exit velocity of 102.9 mph.
Jim Haley was next. On the third pitch, Schultz threw a fastball at Jim Haley and he got all of it for a solo home run over the wall at left-center field for a 5-0 lead. It was Haley’s 11th home run of the season and 53rd RBI of the year. The home run went 414 feet with an exit velocity of 102.7 mph.
Esteban Quiroz popped out toward second baseman Orelvis Martinez, and Drew Ellis lined out toward shortstop Leo Jimenez, who made the catch that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Shaun Anderson gave up a single to Nathan Lukes, followed by a double to Rafael Lantigua with nobody out for Damiano Palmegiani. Palmegiani brought Lukes home with a sacrifice fly toward center fielder Matt Kroon. It was now 5-1 Lehigh Valley.
Then, Anderson got Addison Barger to line out toward second baseman Esteban Quiroz, followed by an Orelvis Martinez popout toward Rafael Marchan in foul territory, who made the catch that ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley designated hitter Brewer Hicklen started the top of the second inning working a four-pitch walk. After back-to-back flyouts by Simon Muzziotti and Matt Kroon, Buffalo replaced Schultz with Jimmy Burnette.
Darick Hall faced Burnette. He worked a four-pitch walk with Dustin Peterson up to bat. Peterson hit Burnette’s curveball for a double to left field scoring Hicklen from second base for a 6-1 lead. It was Peterson’s 52nd RBI of the year.
Next, Rafael Marchan hit Burnette’s sinker for a double to left field scoring Hall and Peterson for an 8-1 lead. It was Marchan’s 31st RBI of the season.
Then, Jim Haley put the ball down for a base hit to center field scoring Marchan for a 9-1 lead. It was Haley’s 54th RBI of the season. Esteban Quiroz lined out toward center fielder Steward Berroa who made the catch that ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the fifth inning, Brewer Hicklen worked a four-pitch walk with two outs for Simon Muzziotti. Before Muzziotti could bat, Buffalo changed pitchers with Brandon Eisert replacing Troy Watson.
On the second pitch, Muzziotti hit Eisert’s fastball for a double to the corner of left field scoring Hicklen that made it 10-1 Lehigh Valley. It was Muzziotti’s 21st double of the season with 59 RBIs of the year. Matt Kroon struck out swinging and the inning was over.
Lehigh Valley threatened to add more runs at the top of the sixth inning. Darick Hall started the inning with a single to center field. Two batters later, Rafael Marchan grounded toward third baseman Tanner Morris for the forceout at second base.
Next, Jim Haley put the ball down for a base hit toward third baseman Tanner Morris moving Marchan to third base. Esteban Quiroz was next but he struck out swinging which ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley pitcher Shaun Anderson gave up a single to Leo Jimenez to start the inning. Then, he got Stevie Berman to ground out, followed by back-to-back lineouts from Steward Berroa and Nathan Lukes which ended the inning.
That was it for Anderson, who pitched a quality game going seven innings, allowing six hits, one run, and seven strikeouts in 104 pitches, of which 67 were strikes.
Brett Schulze was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher in the bottom of the eighth inning. Schulze walked Damiano Palmegiani and Addison Barger with one out. Two batters later with two outs, Schulze loaded the bases when he walked Tanner Morris with Leo Jimenez up to bat.
Schulze got Jimenez to pop out toward first baseman Darick Hall, who made the catch to end the inning. That was it four Schulze’s, who pitched one inning with three walks and one strikeout in 25 pitches, of which eight were strikes.
Connor Brogdon was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher in the bottom of the ninth inning. Brogdon walked Stevie Berman to begin the inning. Next, Steward Berroa grounded toward second baseman Esteban Quiroz for the forceout at second base. Then, Nathan Lukes put the ball down for a base hit to left field moving Berroa to third base.
Rafael Lantigua was next. He brought Berroa home with a sacrifice fly toward center fielder Matt Kroon. It was now 10-2 Lehigh Valley with Damiano Palmegiani up to bat. Brogdon got Palmegiani to fly out toward left fielder Simon Muzziotti, who made the catch that ended the game.
The IronPigs defeated the Bisons by the final score of 10-2. Lehigh Valley played a good game. They finished the night with ten hits, committed one error, went 6 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Shaun Anderson earned his fourth win of the season, and Paxton Schultz lost his fifth game of the season for Buffalo.
The IronPigs and Bisons play game four on Friday at 6:05 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
