The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (33-14) and the Buffalo Bisons (17-28) played game two on a rainy Wednesday night from Coca-Cola Park. Andrew Painter (1-0, 2.25 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Lazaro Estrada (1-3, 5.97 ERA) of Buffalo.
Lehigh Valley got the scoring started in the bottom of the third inning. Left fielder Cal Stevenson hit Estrada’s four-seam fastball for an opposite-field solo home run at 365 feet to left field for a 1-0 lead. It was Stevenson’s second home run of the season. Later, third baseman Otto Kemp hit an RBI single to third base scoring Rafael Lantigua for a 2-0 lead.
At the top of the fourth and fifth innings, Buffalo scored four runs by Damiano Palmegiani, Davis Schneider, and Rainer Nunez for a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit into a fielder’s choice with a throwing error committed by first baseman Rainer Nunez scoring Rafael Lantigua and Justin Crawford. The game was now tied 4-4.
Lehigh Valley broke the tie when Cal Stevenson hit a two-run RBI single to center field scoring Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Garrett Stubbs for a 6-4 lead. Stevenson finished the night going 2 for 3 with a single, a home run, two walks, and three RBIs.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Buddy Kennedy hit an RBI single on a ground ball to third base scoring Justin Crawford for a 7-4 lead. Then, catcher Garrett Stubbs hit an RBI single to right field scoring Gabriel Rincones Jr. for an 8-4 lead. Stubbs finished the night going 3 for 4 with a single, a double, a hit by pitch, and one RBI.
At the top of the seventh inning, Buffalo center fielder Joey Loperfido hit an RBI single to right field scoring Josh Rivera and it was now 8-5 Lehigh Valley.
The rain picked up at the top of the ninth inning and the grounds crew threw the tarp on. The rain did not let up and the game was called. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs defeated the Buffalo Bisons by the final score of 8-5 for their third straight win.
Lehigh Valley starter Andrew Painter pitched four innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one walk, and seven strikeouts throwing 71 pitches, of which 49 were strikes. The win went to relief pitcher Joel Kuhnel for his third win of the season. Kuhnel pitched two innings, allowing two hits throwing 23 pitches, of which 16 were strikes. The loss went to Buffalo relief pitcher Jimmy Burnette.
The IronPigs and Bisons play game three on Thursday at 6:45 pm. Purchase IronPigs tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
