The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (16-23) continued their six-game road trip on Thursday afternoon against the Norfolk Tides (20-22) from Harbor Park Stadium. Lehigh Valley pitcher David Buchanan (3-2, 3.89 ERA) was on the mound against Norfolk’s Garrett Stallings (0-1, 4.74 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on third base when shortstop Weston Wilson hit an RBI double to right field scoring David Dahl for a 1-0 lead. It was Wilson’s fifth double of the season and 15th RBI of the year.
In the bottom of the first inning, Norfolk shortstop Jackson Holliday hit Buchanan’s changeup for a solo home run over the wall at right field tying the game 1-1. Two batters later, Norfolk had a runner on second base when left fielder Heston Kjerstad hit an RBI double to left field scoring Coby Mayo to take a 2-1 lead.
Moving ahead to the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base with Simon Muzziotti up to bat. He hit Stallings fastball for an RBI single to center field scoring Jordan Luplow which tied the game 2-2.
However, in the bottom of the third inning, Norfolk had runners on the corners when right fielder Nick Maton hit Buchanan’s cutter for an RBI single to center field scoring Coby Mayo to put the Tides back up 3-2.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base when first baseman Nick Podkul hit an RBI single to left field scoring Esteban Quiroz once again tying the game 3-3. Two batters later with runners on the corners, Lehigh Valley catcher Cody Roberts hit Stallings’s cutter for a three-run home run over the wall at left field putting the IronPigs up 6-3. It was Roberts’s first home run of the season and fourth RBI of the year.
Norfolk battled back starting in the bottom of the sixth inning. Norfolk designated hitter Daniel Johnson hit Buchanan’s cutter for a two-run home run over the wall at right field cutting Lehigh Valley’s lead down to 6-5.
Lehigh Valley pitcher David Buchanan finished the game pitching 5.2 innings, allowing 8 hits, 5 runs, one walk, and three strikeouts in 82 pitches, of which 57 were strikes. Then, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Norfolk had a runner on first base when shortstop Jackson Holliday hit an RBI double to right field scoring Shayne Fontana and tying the game 6-6.
At the top of the ninth inning, Bryan Baker was pitching for Norfolk. Lehigh Valley left fielder David Dahl hit Baker’s fastball for a solo home run over the wall at center field giving the IronPigs a 7-6 lead. It was Dahl’s fifth home run of the season and 11th RBI of the year. Last night, Dahl became the third Lehigh Valley player in history to hit for the cycle.
Four batters later with two outs and a runner on second base, Lehigh Valley third baseman Esteban Quiroz hit Baker’s changeup for an RBI single to right field scoring Weston Wilson for an 8-6 lead.
Griff McGarry pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the ninth inning. He walked two batters but did get the final three outs of the game and the IronPigs defeated the Norfolk Tides by the final score of 8-6 for their third straight win.
The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Nick Nelson (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R) throwing 16 pitches, of which 10 were strikes. The loss went to Norfolk pitcher Bryan Baker (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K) throwing 34 pitches, of which 20 were strikes, and Lehigh Valley pitcher Griff McGarry (1.0 IP, 2 BB, 1 K) threw 27 pitches, of which 11 were strikes earning his first save of the season.
The IronPigs and Tides continue their six-game series on Friday at 6:35 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.
