The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (62-65) played game five of a six-game series from Coca-Cola Park on Saturday night against the Syracuse Mets (70-59). Lehigh Valley starter Kolby Allard (2-7, 5.45 ERA) was on the mound against Syracuse’s Dom Hamel (3-7, 6.50 ERA).
In the bottom of the first inning, Lehigh Valley center fielder Cal Stevenson hit Hamel’s fastball for a solo home run clearing the wall at right-center field for a 1-0 lead. It was Stevenson’s eighth home run of the season and 44th RBI of the year. The home run went 395 feet with an exit velocity of 103.1 mph.
Three batters later, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when third baseman Buddy Kennedy hit Hamel’s sweeper for a three-run home run over the wall at left field extending their lead to 4-0. It was Kennedy’s 13th home run of the season and 46th RBI of the year. The home run went 420 feet with an exit velocity of 103.6 mph. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Syracuse left fielder Carlos Cortes hit Allard’s changeup for a solo home run over the wall at right-center field and the Mets trailed the IronPigs 4-1. Syracuse did not score any more runs in the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base with two outs when left fielder David Dahl hit an RBI single to center field scoring Kody Clemens for a 5-1 lead. It was Dahl’s 31st RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley second baseman Jim Haley struck out swinging and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base when shortstop Scott Kingery hit Joey Lucchesi’s curveball for an RBI single to shortstop Yolmer Sanchez scoring Cal Stevenson for a 6-1 lead. It was Kingery’s 64th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
At the top of the fifth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley starter Kolby Allard gave up back-to-back home runs to Pablo Reyes and Luke Ritter. The Mets trailed the IronPigs 6-3. After giving up a double to Carlos Cortes, Allard got the last two outs to end the inning. Kolby Allard (5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K) threw 92 pitches, of which 69 were strikes.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on first base with one out when left fielder David Dahl hit Joey Lucchesi’s cutter for a two-run home run clearing the wall at left field for an 8-3 lead. It was Dahl’s 14th home run of the season and 33rd RBI of the year. The home run went 360 feet with an exit velocity of 97.3 mph. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Michael Rucker was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the sixth inning. Rucker pitched two scoreless innings, allowing three hits, and struck out five throwing 30 pitches, of which 25 were strikes.
Andrew Bellatti was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the eighth inning. Syracuse had a runner on second base with one out when Luisangel Acuña hit an RBI triple to center field scoring Yolmer Sanchez and the Mets trailed the IronPigs 8-4. Bellatti got Drew Gilbert to pop out to second baseman Jim Haley and struck out Pablo Reyes to end the inning.
Dylan Covey was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. He got back-to-back ground outs from Luke Ritter and Carlos Cortes for two outs. Finally, Covey struck out Mike Brosseau on a foul tip and the game was over. The IronPigs defeated the Mets 8-4 to take a 3-2 series lead.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 10 hits and committed two errors. The win went to Lehigh Valley starter Kolby Allard for his third win of the season and the loss went to Syracuse starter Dom Hamel.
The IronPigs conclude the series and the 12-game homestand against the Mets on Sunday at 6:35 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo.
