The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (52-50) played game two of a six-game series on Wednesday from 121 Financial Ballpark against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (50-53). Lehigh Valley starter David Parkinson (2-4, 5.48 ERA) was on the mound against Jacksonville’s Kent Emmanuel (0-4, 5.66 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base with two outs when second baseman Kody Clemens hit an RBI single to second baseman Jose Devers as Devers committed a throwing error scoring Darick Hall for a 1-0 lead. It was Clemens’s 33rd RBI of the season. Next, a wild pitch by Jacksonville pitcher Kent Emmanuel scored Rodolfo Castro for a 2-0 lead. A ground out by right fielder Carlos De La Cruz ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Jacksonville had a runner on first base with two outs when Agustin Ramirez hit an RBI double to left field scoring Troy Johnston and the Jumbo Shrimp trailed the IronPigs 2-1. A pop-out by Tristan Gray ended the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on second and third base with one out when shortstop Scott Kingery hit Emmanuel’s sinker for an opposite-field three-run home run over the wall at right field. The IronPigs extended their lead 5-1. The home run went 357 feet with an exit velocity of 97 mph. It was Kingery’s 20th home run of the season and 51st RBI of the year.
At the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with one out when left fielder Matt Kroon worked a four-pitch walk scoring Rodolfo Castro for a 6-1 lead. Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia grounded into a 4-3 inning-ending double play.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when first baseman Darick Hall hit the ball off the glove of shortstop Tristian Gray. Gray scooped up the ball to get Buddy Kennedy out at second base and Scott Kingery scored for a 7-1 lead. It was Hall’s 54th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley designated hitter Rodolfo Castro grounded into a 1-6-3 inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jacksonville had runners on first and second base with one out when Jhonny Pereda hit an RBI single to center field scoring Troy Johnston and the Jumbo Shrimp trailed the IronPigs 7-2.
However, rain began to fall quickly and a lightning strike forced the game to go into a weather delay at 8:17 pm. The game did not resume and was suspended. Lehigh Valley starter David Parkinson (3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K) threw 68 pitches, of which 40 were strikes.
The game resumed on Thursday at 5:05 pm. Richardo Pinto was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. He got José Devers to ground out toward first baseman Darick Hall and the inning was over.
At the top of the sixth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley shortstop Scott Kingery hit Austin Roberts’s sinker for a solo home run off the video board at left field making it 8-2. The home run went 411 feet with an exit velocity of 105.9 mph. It was Kingery’s 21st home run of the season and 52nd RBI of the year.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jacksonville designated hitter Jhonny Pereda hit Pinto’s sinker for a solo home run over the wall at right field and the Jumbo Shrimp trailed the IronPigs 8-3. Four batters later, Jacksonville had a runner on first base with two outs when Javier Sanoja hit an RBI triple to right field scoring Jonathan Davis. The Jumbo Shrimp trailed the IronPigs 8-4. A ground out by Deyvison De Los Santos ended the inning. Ricardo Pinto (3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K) threw 50 pitches, of which 33 were strikes.
Tyler McKay was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. McKay (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) threw 17 pitches, of which 12 were strikes to get three outs. McKay returned to the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning. McKay struck out Jhonny Pereda, followed by back-to-back groundouts from Griffin Conine and José Devers and the game was over.
The IronPigs defeated the Jumbo Shrimp 8-4. They finished the game with 12 hits. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Ricardo Pinto for his fourth win of the season, and the loss went to Jacksonville pitcher Kent Emanuel.
The IronPigs and Jumbo Shrimp game three on Thursday 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.
