The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (8-8) played game four of the six-game series on Friday night from PNC Field against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (12-6) looking to tie the series. Lehigh Valley pitcher Tyler Phillips (1-1, 3.78 ERA) was on the mound against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Clayton Beeter (1-0, 0.00 ERA).
Lehigh Valley got off to a great start at the top of the first inning when second baseman Esteban Quiroz worked a bases-loaded four-pitch walk for a 1-0 lead with two outs. Then, Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia cleared the bases with a three-run double to left field for a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s T.J. Rumfield drove in Caleb Durbin with an RBI double to left field cutting the IronPigs lead down to 4-1. At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley got the run back on a Simon Muzziotti sacrifice fly scoring Cal Stevenson for a 5-1 lead.
At the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley second baseman Esteban Quiroz brought home Darick Hall with a sacrifice fly to right field making it 6-1. In the bottom of the fifth inning, an RBI groundout by Brandon Lockridge and a wild pitch by Lehigh Valley pitcher Tyler Phillips cut the IronPigs lead in half 6-3.
At the top of the seventh inning with a runner on second base, Lehigh Valley left fielder Simon Muzziotti hit an RBI single to center field scoring Cal Stevenson for a 7-3 lead.
Then, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Kody Clemens hit an RBI single to right field scoring Muzziotti for an 8-3 lead.
Lehigh Valley would put the game away at the top of the ninth inning when right fielder David Dahl hit Duane Underwood Jr.’s sinker for a solo home run over the wall at left field making it 9-3. It was Dahl’s third home run of the season.
Ryan Burr closed on the game for the IronPigs. He gave up a walk and single but managed to the final three outs of the game and the IronPigs defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders by the final score of 9-3 tying the series.
The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Tyler Phillips (6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 6 K) throwing 94 pitches, of which 56 were strikes for his second win of the season. The loss went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher Clayton Beeter (4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 5 K) throwing 79 pitches, of which 42 were strikes.
The IronPigs will look to take the series lead against the RailRiders on Saturday at 4:05 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
