The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (17-7) took on the Columbus Clippers (12-10) in game three of a six-game homestand on Thursday night from Coca-Cola Park. Nabil Crismatt (3-1, 3.43 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against former IronPig starter Vince Velasquez (0-0. 5.73 ERA) of Columbus.
Lehigh Valley third baseman Buddy Kennedy put the IronPigs on the board 1-0 by hitting Velasquez’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run 390 feet to left-center field. Kennedy went 2 for 5 with a double, a home run, and one RBI. It was Kennedy’s first home run of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley catcher Garrett Stubbs hit Valasquez’s slider for a solo home run 368 feet to right field extending Lehigh Valley’s lead to 2-0. It was Stubbs’s second home run of the season. He finished the game 1 for 3 with one home run, one RBI, and two walks. Later, Lehigh Valley shortstop.
Erik Britto hit an RBI single to center field scoring Rodolfo Castro for a 3-0 lead. He finished the game going 3 for 3 with a single, double, and one RBI. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Cade Fergus hit an RBI ground ball to second baseman Christian Cairo scoring Erik Brito for a 4-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley could not hold onto the lead as relief pitcher Devin Sweet gave up four runs at the top of the eighth inning thanks to two walks, a sac bunt by Kody Huff, an RBI single by Yordys Valdes, and an RBI ground out from Christian Cairo.
At the top of the tenth inning, Dom Nunez hit a sacrifice fly to put Columbus up 5-4. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Lehigh Valley second baseman Rafael Lantigua hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Rodolfo Castro, and the game was tied 5-5.
Then, Lehigh Valley left fielder Cade Fergus ended the game by hitting Alonzo Richardson’s curveball for a walk-off two-run home run 429 feet to center field and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs defeated the Columbus Clippers by the final score of 7-5. Lehigh Valley has now four consecutive games.
Lehigh Valley starter Nabil Crismatt pitched six innings, allowing two hits, two walks, and five strikeouts throwing 83 pitches, of which 54 were strikes. The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Brett de Geus, who pitched two innings, allowing one hit, one run, and one strikeout throwing 22 pitches, of which 16 were strikes. The loss went to Columbus relief pitcher Alonzo Richardson.
The IronPigs and Clippers play game five on Friday at 7:05 pm. Purchase IronPigs tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
