The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (33-38) and the Norfolk Tides (35-38) played game four of a six-game series on Friday night from Coca-Cola Park. Lehigh Valley starter Tyler Phillips (7-3, 5.06 ERA) was on the mound against Norfolk’s Julio Teheran (1-0, 8.10 ERA).
At the top of the first inning with one out and a runner on third base, Norfolk third baseman Coby Mayo hit an RBI double to right field scoring Connor Norby for a 1-0 lead. Norfolk did not add any more runs in the inning.
The IronPigs were dealt a major blow in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Lehigh Valley right fielder Jordan Luplow hit a single to left field. The ball took a one-hop off the wall where left fielder Hudson Haskins quickly got it. Then, Haskins threw the ball toward second baseman Connor Norby.
Seeing this, Luplow went to apply the brakes to head back to first base but his right knee buckled and he went down holding it. Luplow had to be helped to the locker room. Ruben Cardenas took over playing right field. A line out by Lehigh Valley second baseman Jim Haley ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning with two outs, Norfolk third baseman Coby Mayo hit Phillips’s fastball for a solo home run clearing the wall at center field for a 2-0 lead. It was Mayo’s 14th home run of the season. Then, Phillips struck out Daniel Johnson for the final out of the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning with two outs and a runner on first base, Norfolk catcher Connor Pavolony hit an RBI single to right field scoring Hudson Haskins but Lehigh Valley right fielder Ruben Cardenas made a nice throw to shortstop Scott Kingery to get Pavolony out at second base and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley first baseman Nick Podkul hit Julio Teheran’s cutter for a solo home run clearing the wall at left field and the score was now 3-1 Norfolk. It was Podkul’s seventh home run of the season and 21st RBI of the year. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Lehigh Valley starter Tyler Phillips (6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 7 K) threw 99 pitches, of which 70 were strikes. Michael Rucker was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the seventh inning. Rucker (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K) threw 19 pitches, of which 9 were strikes to get three outs.
Andrew Bellatti was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the eighth inning. Bellatti (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K) threw 19 pitches, of which 12 were strikes to get three outs.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Wandisson Charles was the new pitcher for Norfolk. With one out and runners on first and second base, Lehigh Valley left fielder Weston Wilson hit an RBI single to center field scoring Nick Podkul and the score was now 3-2 Norfolk. It was Wilson’s 42nd RBI of the season. Norfolk changed pitchers with Matt Krook replacing Wandisson Charles.
Two batters later, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded when Norfolk pitcher Matt Krook hit Ruben Cardenas, and the game was tied 3-3. Next, Lehigh Valley second baseman Jim Haley hit the ball toward third baseman Coby Mayo. Mayo picked up the ball before throwing it to home plate but instead hit Weston Wilson’s back and Darick Hall scored on the throwing error for a 5-3 lead.
Then, Lehigh Valley center fielder Cal Stevenson hit a two-run RBI double to center field scoring Ruben Cardenas and Jim Haley extending Lehigh Valley’s lead to 7-3. It was Stevenson’s 25th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Max Lazar was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the ninth inning. Lazar got Shayne Fontana to fly out toward center fielder Cal Stevenson, Connor Norby lined out toward left fielder Weston Wilson, and a ground out by Heston Kjerstad ended the game. Lazar (1.0 IP) threw eight pitches, of which seven were strikes.
The IronPigs defeated the Tides by the final score of 7-3. It’s Lehigh Valley’s fourth consecutive win and they win the series with two games left to play. Lehigh Valley finished the night with seven hits and committed one error.
The win went to Lehigh Valley Andrew Bellatti. It was his second win of the season. The loss went to Norfolk pitcher Wandisson Charles. It was Charles’s fifth loss of the season.
The IronPigs and Tides play game five on Saturday 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.
