The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (35-40) and the Durham Bulls (37-40) played game three of a six-game series on Thursday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Lehigh Valley starter Tyler Phillips (7-3, 5.02 ERA) was on the mound against Durham’s Joe Rock (4-3, 3.86 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with one out when right fielder Ruben Cardenas hit a two-run RBI double to left field scoring Buddy Kennedy and Kody Clemens for a 2-0 lead. It was Cardenas’s 13th double of the season and 45th RBI of the year.
Next, Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia grounded toward third baseman Austin Shenton, who threw the ball to first baseman Rob Brantly but Weston Wilson. The score was now 3-0 Lehigh Valley and the RBI was Aramis Garcia’s 23rd of the season. A ground out by first baseman Darick Hall ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Durham had a runner on third base with one out when third baseman Austin Shenton grounded toward pitcher Tyler Phillips, who threw the ball to first baseman Darick Hall for the second out but Curtis Mead scored. Lehigh Valley’s lead was now 3-1. A ground out by Logan Driscoll ended the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Darick Hall hit Rock’s slider for a solo home run clearing the wall at right field for a 4-1 lead. It was Hall’s sixth home run of the season and 28th RBI of the year. The home run went 367 feet with an exit velocity of 103.2 mph. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning with one out and runners on second and third base, Durham third baseman Austin Shenton flies out toward Lehigh Valley right fielder Ruben Cardenas. Cardenas caught the ball and threw toward catcher Aramis Garcia to get Kameron Misner out at home plate to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Durham had runners on the corners with two outs when shortstop C.J. Hinojosa hit an RBI double to center fielder Johan Rojas. Rojas threw the ball to shortstop Scott Kingery, who then threw the ball to catcher Aramis Garcia before tagging Rob Brantly out at home plate and the inning was over. However, Tristan Peters scored and the score was now 4-2 Lehigh Valley. Tyler Phillips (6.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K) threw 101 pitches, of which 63 were strikes.
Michael Rucker was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Durham second baseman Curtis Mead hit Rucker’s fastball for a solo home run over the wall at left field and the score was now 4-3 Lehigh Valley.
Next, Durham left field Ronny Simon hit Ricker’s cutter for a solo home run clearing the wall at right field and the game was tied 4-4. Michael Rucker struck out Austin Shenton and Logan Driscoll to end the inning. Tyler Gilbert (1.0 IP, 2 K) pitched in the bottom of the eighth inning throwing 10 pitches, of which 8 were strikes.
At the top of the ninth inning with two outs, Lehigh Valley second baseman Weston Wilson hit Nathan Wiles’s fastball for a solo home run clearing the wall at left field for a 5-4 lead. It was Wilson’s 13th home run of the season and 46th RBI of the year.
The home run went 381 feet with an exit velocity of 97.3 mph. A flyout from Lehigh Valley right fielder Ruben Cardenas to center fielder Jake Mangum for the final out of the inning.
Max Lazar was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the ninth inning. Lazar got C.J. Hinojosa to fly out toward right fielder Ruben Cardenas, and Kameron Misner lined out toward center fielder Johan Rojas for two outs.
Next, Durham second baseman Curtis Mead reached first base on a throwing error by third baseman Buddy Kennedy. The throwing error allowed Mead to run to third base. Then, Lazar walked Ronny Simon with two outs before Durham third baseman Austin Shenton hit an RBI single to left field scoring Curtis Mead, and the game was tied again 5-5.
Finally, Durham catcher Logan Driscoll hit a game-winning RBI single to right field scoring Ronny Simon and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs lost to the Durham Bulls 6-5. Max Lazar (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB) threw 24 pitches, of which 14 were strikes. The series is now 2-1 Durham.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 13 hits and committed one error. The loss went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Max Lazar. It was his second loss of the season and the win went to Durham pitcher Nathan Wiles.
The IronPigs and Bulls play game four 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.
