The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (61-65) played game four of a six-game series from Coca-Cola Park on Friday night against the Syracuse Mets (70-58). Lehigh Valley starter Seth Johnson (1-0, 0.90 ERA) was on the mound against Syracuse’s Joander Suarez (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
In the bottom of the second inning with one out, Lehigh Valley left fielder Kody Clemens hit Suarez’s changeup for a solo home run over the wall at right-center field for a 1-0 lead. It was Clemens’s 13th home run of the season and 49th RBI of the year. The home run went 406 feet with an exit velocity of 104.9 mph. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Kody Clemens hit Suarez’s fastball for another solo home run clearing the wall at right field for a 2-0 lead. It was Clemens’s 14th home run of the season and 50th RBI of the year. The home run went 354 feet with an exit velocity of 99.6 mph.
Two batters later, Lehigh Valley had a runner on first base with one out when catcher Cody Roberts hit an RBI single to right field scoring David Dahl extending their lead to 3-0. A throwing error by Syracuse right fielder Carlos Cortes allowed Roberts to run to third base. Then, a wild pitch by Joander Suarez brought Roberts home for a 4-0 lead. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Lehigh Valley starter Seth Johnson (6.0 IP, 1 H, 5 K) threw 82 pitches, of which 51 were strikes. Freddy Tarnok was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the seventh inning. Tarnok (1.0 IP, 1 H) threw 11 pitches, of which 7 were strikes to get three outs.
At the top of the eighth inning with one out and runners on the corners. Lehigh Valley pitcher Freddy Tarnok threw a wild pitch scoring Yolmer Sánchez and the Mets trailed the IronPigs 4-1. Tarnok struck out Logan Porter and a pop-out by Luisangel Acuña ended the inning. Tarnok (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K) threw 36 pitches, of which 22 were strikes.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners with one out when second baseman Jim Haley grounded into a forceout at second base but scored Kody Clemens for a 5-1 lead. It was Haley’s 35th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Zach Haake was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Haake got Drew Gilbert to ground out toward second baseman Jim Haley for the first out. Next, he struck out D.J. Stewart before walking Pablo Reyes. Finally, Haake struck out Jackie Bradley Jr. and the game was over. The IronPigs defeated the Mets 5-1. The series is now tied 2-2.
They finished the night with 9 hits. The win went to Lehigh Valley starter Seth Johnson for his second win of the season and the loss went to Syracuse starter Joander Suarez.
The IronPigs and Mets play game five on Saturday at 6:35 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo.
