The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (32-14) returned to Coca-Cola Park in Tuesday morning to begin a six-game homestand against the Buffalo Bisons (17-27) on education day. Alan Rangel (2-0, 5.66 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against CJ Van Eyk (0-0, 0.00 ERA) of Buffalo.
Buffalo got on the board at the top of the first inning when Alan Roden hit a solo home run to right field for a 1-0 lead. It was his third home run of the season. Lehigh Valley responded in the bottom of the first inning when second baseman Otto Kemp hit Eyk’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 369 feet to right field, and the game was tied 1-1. It was his eleventh home run of the season.
Kemp was not done. In the bottom of the third inning, he hit an RBI single to center field scoring Rodolfo Castro for a 2-1 lead. Kemp finished the afternoon going 2 for 3 with a single, a home run, two walks, and two RBIs. Later, a groundout by designated hitter Gabriel Rincones Jr. brought home Justin Crawford for a 3-1 lead.
Buffalo came back to tie the game at the top of the fifth inning when Josh Rivera hit a two-run home run at 334 feet to right field and it was now 3-3.
Moving to the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley would get the lead back when Buffalo catcher Ali Sánchez tried to catch Oscar Mercado stealing third base, but his throw was wide to Davis Schneider and Mercado scored for a 4-3 lead.
Then, Lehigh Valley shortstop Rodolfo Castro hit an RBI single to right field scoring Erick Brito for a 5-3. Castro finished the afternoon going 1 for 3 with a single, a walk, and one RBI. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Buffalo center fielder Joey Loperfido hit an RBI single to right field to make it 5-4. With runners on the corners and two outs, Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Devin Sweet got Davis Schneider to ground into a forceout at second base for the final out of the game.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs defeated the Buffalo Bisons by the final score of 5-4. Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel pitched five innings, allowing six hits, three runs, and four strikeouts throwing 85 pitches, of which 61 were strikes.
The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Austin Schulfer, and Devin Sweet earned his first save of the season. The loss went to Buffalo relief pitcher Justin Bruihl.
The IronPigs and Bisons play game two on Wednesday at 6:45 pm. Purchase IronPigs tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
