The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (51-50) continued their 12-game road trip on Tuesday from 121 Financial Ballpark against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (50-52). Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel (3-7, 6.53 ERA) was on the mound against Jacksonville’s Darren McCaughan (1-3, 5.81 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with two outs when second baseman Rodolfo Castro worked a four-pitch walk scoring Kody Clemens for a 1-0 lead. It was Castro’s fifth RBI of the year.
Next, right fielder Carlos De La Cruz was hit by a pitch from Darren McCaughan scoring Darick Hall for a 2-0 lead. It was Cruz’s ninth RBI of the season. Scott Kingery struck out swinging and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the first inning, Jacksonville had a runner on first base when first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos hit Abel’s slider for a two-run home run over the wall at left field and the game was tied 2-2. It was Santos’s second home run of the season. With two outs and the bases loaded, Abel got José Devers to fly out toward right fielder Carlos De La Cruz for the final out of the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning, Jacksonville had a runner on first base with two outs when left fielder Troy Johnston hit an RBI double to center field scoring Deyvison De Los Santos and putting the Jumbo Shrimp up 3-2. Then, designated hitter Agustin Ramirez hit an RBI single to left field scoring Johnston for a 4-2 lead. A ground out by Griffin Conine ended the inning.
At the top of the fifth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley first baseman Darick Hall hit McCaughan’s changeup for a solo home run clearing the wall at right-center field and the IronPigs trailed the Jumbo Shrimp 4-3.
The home run went 441 feet with an exit velocity of 109.2 mph. It was Hall’s 12th home run of the season and 53rd RBI of the year. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel (4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K) threw 90 pitches, of which 54 were strikes. Jonah Dipoto was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jacksonville had runners on second and third base when Jonathan Davis grounded toward third baseman Buddy Kennedy scoring Will Banfield for a 5-3 lead. A ground out by Javier Sanoja ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jacksonville had runners on first and second base with two outs when Agustin Ramirez stole third base but a throwing error by catcher Rafael Marchan scored Ramirez and it was 6-3 Jacksonville. A line out by Will Banfield to left fielder Simon Muzziotti ended the inning. Jonah Dipoto (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K) threw 37 pitches, of which 19 were strikes.
Taylor Lehman was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jacksonville had runners on first and second base with one out when Javier Sanoja hit an RBI double to right field scoring José Devers for a 7-3 lead. Two batters later, Troy Johnston grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. Lehman (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K) threw 25 pitches, of which 11 were strikes.
Michael Mercado was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mercado (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) threw 19 pitches, of which 10 were strikes.
At the top of the ninth inning, Luarbert Arias was the pitcher for Jackson. Lehigh Valley right field Carlos De La Cruz hit a single and Scott Kingery worked a four-pitch walk with nobody out. Three batters later with two outs, Lehigh Valley third baseman Buddy Kennedy worked a four-pitch walk loading the bases for Kody Clemens. However, Clemens was called out on strikes and the game was over. The IronPigs lost to the Jumbo Shrimp 7-3.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with six hits and committed one error. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel for his eighth loss of the season, and the win went to Jacksonville pitcher Darren McCaughan.
The IronPigs and Jumbo Shrimp 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 Rally House.
