The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (11-12) played game five of a six-game homestand on Saturday night against the Charlotte Knights (11-14) from Coca-Cola Park. Lehigh Valley pitcher Tyler Phillips (2-1, 3.57 ERA) was on the mound against Charlotte’s Nick Nastrini (0-1, 7.71 ERA).
Charlotte struck first at the top of the first inning. Charlotte center fielder Wynton Bernard hit a double before stealing third base. Next, Oscar Colás hit Phillips’s changeup for an RBI triple to center field scoring Bernard for a 1-0 lead. Then, a groundout by Charlotte catcher Chuckie Robinson scored Colás extending the Knights lead to 2-0. A groundout by Zach DeLoach ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning with one out, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Jordan Luplow hit Nastrini’s fastball for a solo home run onto the berm at left-center field cutting the Knights lead down to 2-1. It was Luplow’s fifth home run of the season and 15th RBI of the year. A pop-out by first baseman Darick Hall and a groundout from left fielder David Dahl ended the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the third inning, Lehigh Valley center fielder Cal Stevenson hit Nastrini’s fastball for a solo home run off the foul pole at right field tying the game 2-2. It’s Stevenson’s first home run of the season and fourth RBI of the year.
Three batters later, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Jordan Luplow worked a four-pitch walk with first baseman Darick Hall up to bat. Hall hit Nastrini’s curveball for an RBI single to center field scoring Luplow putting the IronPigs up 3-2. A fielding error by center fielder Wynton Bernard allowed Hall to run to second base. However, right fielder David Dahl struck out swinging ending the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning with one out, Charlotte had a runner on first base when third baseman Angelo Castellano hit Phillips’s sinker for a two-run home run over the wall at left field giving the Knights a 4-3 lead. Phillips got the last two outs to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded when catcher José Godoy worked a four-pitch walk scoring Simon Muzziotti that tied the game 4-4. Next, second baseman Kody Clemens hit Nastrini’s fastball for a two-run double to left field putting the IronPigs up 6-4. It was Clemens’s fifth double of the season and 14th RBI of the year.
Then, a sacrifice fly by Lehigh Valley designated hitter Luplow scored José Godoy extending their lead to 7-4. With two outs, Lehigh Valley first baseman Darick Hall popped up toward second baseman Wilmer Difo. No one called for the ball when it dropped and Hall had an RBI single scoring Kody Clemens for an 8-4 lead.
After Lehigh Valley right fielder David Dahl hit a single to right field, Simon Muzziotti flies out toward left fielder Mark Payton, who made the catch ending the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with a chance to extend their lead but Scott Kingery flies out toward right fielder Oscar Colás, who then threw a dart toward catcher Chuckie Robinson beating Darick Hall at home plate to complete an inning-ending double play.
At the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley pitcher Tyler Phillips got Angelo Castellano to fly out by Angelo Castellano, struck out Mark Payton, and a groundout by Wilmer Difo ending the inning. Phillips pitched seven innings, allowing four hits, four runs, two walks, and five strikeouts throwing 102 pitches, of which 66 were strikes.
Taylor Lehman was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the eighth inning. He struck out Wynton Bernard, got Colson Montgomery to pop out toward shortstop Scott Kingery, and Oscar Colás flies out toward left fielder David Dahl ending the inning.
José Ruiz closed out the game for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. He struck out Chuckie Robinson, and Zach DeLoach, before walking Carlos Pérez. Then, Ruiz struck out Angelo Castellano ending the game and the IronPigs defeated the Charlotte Knights by the final score of 8-4. The IronPigs are now 2-3 against Charlotte in this series.
The win went to Lehigh Valley starter Tyler Phillips. It was his third consecutive win of the season, and the loss went to Charlotte starter Nick Nastrini (3.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 4 BB, 6 K) throwing 85 pitches, of which 50 were strikes.
The IronPigs will go for the split as they conclude the six-game homestand against the Charlotte Knights on Sunday at 1:35 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics and Rally House.
