The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (4-5) played game three of a six-game series against the Durham Bulls (5-7) on Thursday night from Coca-Cola Park. Lehigh Valley starter Max Castillo (0-0, 8.31 ERA) was on the mound against Durham’s Nathan Wiles (0-1, 9.00 ERA).
In the bottom of the second inning, Lehigh Valley left field David Dahl hit Wiles’s fastball for an opposite-field home run to left-center field putting the IronPigs up 1-0.
However, Durham bounced back at the top of the third inning. The Bulls tied the game 1-1 when Tristan Peters stole home plate after Dominic Smith struck out swinging. Next, a fielding error by shortstop Weston Wilson allowed Kameron Misner to score for a 2-1 lead. Then, Ronnie Simon hit Castillo’s fastball for a two-run home run onto the berm at center field for a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, an RBI single by Weston Wilson cut the Bulls lead in half 4-2. Then, Lehigh Valley took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when first baseman Darick Hall hit Wiles’s changeup for a three-run home run over the wall at right field.
At the top of the sixth inning, Durham tied the game 5-5 when C.J. Hinojosa was picked off attempting to steal second base allowing Ruben Cardenas to score. Lehigh Valley would retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when third baseman Esteban Quiroz hit Wiles’s changeup for a solo home run over the wall at right field for a 6-5 lead.
Durham would take the lead for good at the top of the eighth inning. Taylor Lehman was pitching for Lehigh Valley. He walked Dominic Smith before giving up a two-run home run to Alex Jackson onto the berm at left-center field for a 7-6 lead.
Two batters later, Ruben Cardenas hit an RBI single to center field which made it 8-6. Next, Rob Brantly hit an RBI double to right field for a 9-6 lead, and Lehigh Valley pitcher Andrew Bellatti’s wide pitch made it 10-6.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley’s Simon Muzziotti, Esteban Quiroz, and Cal Stevenson all grounded out which ended the game. The IronPigs lost to the Bulls by the final score of 10-6.
Lehigh Valley starter Max Castillo pitched five innings, allowing six hits, four runs, one walk, and eight strikeouts in 84 pitches, of which 55 were strikes. The loss went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Taylor Lehman (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, and 2 BB) in 26 pitches, of which 12 were strikes. The win went to Durham’s Nathan Wiles (5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 4 K) in 75 pitches, of which 47 were strikes.
The IronPigs and Bulls continue their series with game four on Friday at 7:05 pm on MiLB.com. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
