The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (30-38) returned to Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday night to begin a six-game homestand against the Norfolk Tides (35-35). Lehigh Valley starter Michael Mercado (0-1, 1.31 ERA) was on the mound against Norfolk’s Justin Armbruester (1-5, 9.54 ERA).
In the bottom of the second inning with one out, Lehigh Valley third baseman Weston Wilson hit Armbruester’s sweeper for a solo home run clearing the wall at left field for a 1-0 lead. It was Wilson’s ninth home run of the season and 36th RBI of the year.
Wilson has now hit a home run in four consecutive games. The home run went 363 feet with an exit velocity of 97.5 mph. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when third baseman Weston Wilson hit Armbruester’s cutter for a three-run home run over the wall at left field extending the IronPigs lead to 4-0.
It was Wilson’s tenth home run of the season and 39th RBI of the year. The home run went 378 feet with an exit velocity of 98.9 mph. Lehigh Valley did not score any more runs in the inning.
At the top of the fifth inning, Norfolk had runners on second and third base when catcher Maverick Handley brought Nick Maton home with a sacrifice fly to left field and the score was now 4-1 Lehigh Valley. Two batters later with two outs, Norfolk first baseman Shayne Fontana brought Hudson Haskin home and the score was now 4-2 Lehigh Valley.
Next, Norfolk right fielder Heston Kjerstad hit an RBI single to center field scoring Anthony Servideo and the score was now 4-3. A ground out by Coby Mayo ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on third base, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Ruben Cardenas reached first base on a throwing error by shortstop Anthony Servideo scoring Cal Stevenson for a 5-3 lead. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley starter Michael Mercado walked Nick Maton with two outs before striking out Hudson Haskin for the final out of the inning. Mercado pitched six innings, allowing six hits, three runs, one walk, and six strikeouts throwing 91 pitches, of which 59 were strikes.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base with one out when left fielder Cal Stevenson hit an RBI single to right field scoring Jordan Luplow for a 6-3 lead. It was Stevenson’s 22nd RBI of the season.
Then, Lehigh Valley center fielder Johan Rojas singles on a pop-up toward second baseman Billy Cook. Cook did not see the ball and it dropped scoring Scott Kingery for a 7-3 lead. It was Rojas’s first RBI of the season. A pop-out by Ruben Cardenas and Buddy Kennedy striking out ended the inning.
Luis F. Ortiz was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the seventh inning. He hit Shayne Fontana with two outs before getting Heston Kjerstad to line out toward left fielder Cal Stevenson for the final out of the inning. At the top of the eighth inning with two outs and a runner on first base, Norfolk third baseman Nick Maton hit Ortiz’s curveball for a two-run home run clearing the wall at right field and the score was now 7-5 Lehigh Valley.
Luis F. Ortiz (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB) threw 25 pitches, of which 14 were strikes. Max Lazer was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley finishing the top of the eighth inning by striking out Maverick Handley to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base with two outs, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Rubens Cardenas hit an RBI double to left field scoring Scott Kingery for an 8-5 lead. It was Cardenas’s 13th double of the season and 36th RBI of the year.
Then, Lehigh Vally second baseman Buddy Kennedy hit an RBI single to center field scoring Ruben Cardenas making it 9-5 Lehigh Valley. It was Kennedy’s 21st RBI of the season. A pop-out by first baseman Darick Hall ended the inning.
Max Lazer pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. He struck out Anthony Servideo, got Shayne Fontana to ground out toward him for the second out, and struck out Heston Kjerstad to end the game. The IronPigs defeated the Tides by the final score of 9-5. Lazer (1.1 IP, 3 K) threw 20 pitches, of which 15 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with eight hits. The win went to Lehigh Valley starter Michael Mercado. It was his first win of the season while the loss went to Norfolk starter Justin Armbruester for his sixth loss of the season. Lehigh Valley pitcher Max Lazer earned his seventh save of the season.
The IronPigs and Tides play game two on Wednesday at 7:05 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.
