The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (74-61, 33-34) and the Buffalo Bisons (69-66, 35-35) played game five of a six-game series on Saturday night from Sahlen Field. The IronPigs led the series 3-1.
There were a couple of transactions that took place before the game. Lehigh Valley assigned right-hand pitchers Hans Crouse and Eric Uelmen to the Clearwater Threshers for their rehab assignments. The Threshers wrap up the regular season on Sunday before they play the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Division Series next week.
Nick Nelson (7-2, 4.26 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his 18th start of the season against Buffalo’s Mitch White (1-2, 7.32 ERA).
After three scoreless innings, Lehigh Valley struck first at the top of the fourth inning. Lehigh Valley went hitless in the first three innings until Matt Kroon hit his first triple of the season on a sharp line drive to right field with two outs for Simon Muzziotti.
Muzziotti singled on a soft bunt ground ball toward third baseman Tanner Morris. Morris scooped up the ball but Muzziotti beat the throw at first base while Kroon scored for a 1-0 Lehigh Valley lead. It was Muzziotti’s 60th RBI of the season. Then, Rafael Marchan flew out toward center fielder Cam Eden, who made the catch that ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley’s lead did not last long. In the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, Nick Nelson walked Orelvis Martinez. Next, Luis De Los Santos put the ball down for a base hit to right field moving Martinez to second base with Tanner Morris up to bat.
Morris hit Nelson’s changeup for a base hit to left field. Simon Muzziotti misplayed the ball which allowed Martinez to score. However, Muzziotti retrieved the ball before throwing it to third baseman Esteban Quiroz to tag Santos out at third base. The game was now tied 1-1. Then, Stevie Berman grounded into a forceout at second base which ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the sixth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley catcher Rafael Marchan got hit in the back of the head and neck area by Orelvis Martinez and was down for a few minutes before getting up and staying in the game. Martinez flew out toward left fielder Simon Muzziotti before Nick Nelson struck out Luis De Los Santos to end the inning.
Lehigh Valley pitcher Nick Nelson got into trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning. He gave up a single to Tanner Morris to start the inning. Two batters later, Cam Eden doubled on a fly ball to right field moving Morris to third base. Lehigh Valley replaced Nelson with Ben Bowden.
Nathan Lukes was up to bat. Lukes hit Bowden’s slider for a single to center field which brought Morris home that put Buffalo up 2-1. Then, Bowden got Rafael Lantigua to ground into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Nick Nelson finished the night pitching 6.1 innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, one walk, and four strikeouts in 99 pitches, of which 63 were strikes.
Zach Pop was the new Buffalo pitcher at the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Brewer Hicklen worked a four-pitch walk and later stole second base. Two batters later with two outs, Weston Wilson hit his 18th double of the season on a ground ball to left field scoring Hicklen that tied the game 2-2. Wilson now has 84 RBIs for the season.
Then, Darick Hall put the ball down for a base hit to center field. Cam Eden scooped up the ball before throwing a dart toward catcher Stevie Berman, who just tagged Wilson’s heel for the final out of the inning.
Luis Ortiz was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher in the bottom of the eighth inning. He gave up a single to Damiano Palmegiani, followed by walking Addison Barger. Three batters later with two outs, The IronPigs elected to walk Tanner Morris before Stevie Berman flew out toward center fielder Matt Kroon for the final out of the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the ninth inning, Luis Ortiz gave up a single to Cam Eden on a line drive to left field. Later, Eden stole second base. Two batters later with one out, Rafael Lantigua ended the game with a single on a pop-up to right field. Drew Ellis came up short of making the catch with Eden scoring from second base. The IronPigs lose to the Bison by the final score of 3-2.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with four hits, committed two errors, went 3 for 4 with runners in scoring position, and left four men on base. Luis Ortiz lost his first game of the season for Lehigh Valley, while Erik Swanson won his first game for Buffalo this year.
The IronPigs and Bisons will play for the final time of the season on Sunday at 1:05 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
