The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (27-37) resumed their suspended game Sunday afternoon and put up fifteen hits on their way to a 12-2 win over the Buffalo Bisons (35-28) at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. Spencer Howard (1-0, 0.96 ERA) got the start for Lehigh Valley versus Buffalo’s Casey Lawrence (2-1, 7.40 ERA)
Lehigh Valley took a 1-0 lead at the top of the first inning on an RBI double by right fielder Mickey Moniak. Then in the bottom of the first inning, the Bisons tied it up 1-1 on an RBI single by catcher Alejandro Kirk.
At the top of the third inning, with runners on the corners, IronPigs right fielder Mickey Moniak hit a three-run home run out towards right field. This put Lehigh Valley back up 4-1. It was Moniak’s tenth home run of the season.
The Bisons made a pitching change shortly after Moniak’s home run with Travis Bergen for Casey Lawrence. Then five batters later, with the bases loaded, IronPigs second baseman Jake Elmore doubled to center field that cleared the bases, and the IronPigs were up 7-1. However, the game would be suspended due to rain at the top of the fourth inning.
When the game resumed Sunday afternoon, Lehigh Valley picked up right where they left off. Lehigh Valley scored another run when Bisons pitcher Dany Jimenez walked left fielder Ryan Cordell for an 8-1 lead.
At the top of the sixth inning, IronPigs third baseman Matt Vierling’s solo home run out towards left field made it 9-1. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Bisons first baseman Tyler White hit his third home of the season that went over the center field wall to cut the IronPigs lead 9-2.
At the top of the seventh inning, IronPigs second baseman Jake Elmore suffered a leg injury on a ground out to first base. Ruben Tejada replaced Elmore at second base. Two batters later, IronPigs shortstop Dalton Guthrie hit his tenth double of the season to left field, scoring a run for a 10-2 lead.
Then, right fielder Mickey Moniak doubled to right field that brought home another run for an 11-2 lead. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, a wild pitch by Bisons pitcher Hobie Harris made it 12-2.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Bryan Mitchell was the new pitcher for the IronPigs. After giving up a walk to Bisons center fielder Logan Warmoth, he got the last three outs that ended the game. The IronPigs defeated the Bisons 12-2.
Spencer Howard finished the game pitching (3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 SO). The win went to IronPigs reliever David Paulino (4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO), while the loss went to Bisons starting pitcher Casey Lawrence (2.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER).