The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (38-16) and the Norfolk Tides (20-33) played game three on Friday night from Harbor Park. Mick Abel (6-2, 2.41 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Cameron Weston (1-2, 4.26 ERA) of Norfolk.
Lehigh Valley went on the board at the top of the third inning when designated hitter Buddy Kennedy hit Weston’s slider for a two-run home run at 344 feet to left field for a 2-0 lead.
It was Kennedy’s seventh home run of the season. Kennedy finished the night going 2 for 4 with a single, a home run, and two RBIs. Later, right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit an RBI single to right field scoring Cal Stevenson extending their lead to 3-0.
At the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley first Christian Arroyo hit Houston Roth’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 417 feet to left-center field for a 4-0 lead. It was Arroyo’s fourth home run of the season. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel loaded the bases with two outs.
Abel walked Samuel Basallo forcing in a run and it was now 4-1. Abel was replaced by Devin Sweet, who got the final out to end the inning. Mick Abel finished the night pitching 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, one run, three walks, and eight strikeouts throwing 93 pitches, of which 59 were strikes. Sweet pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one walk, and one strikeout throwing 18 pitches, of which nine were strikes.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Norfolk center fielder Jud Fabian hit Seth Johnson’s slider for a solo home run at 379 feet to left field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was now at 4-2. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Daniel Robert threw 14 pitches, of which 10 were strikes, and two strikeouts getting the final three outs of the game. The IronPigs defeated the Tides by the final score of 4-2.
The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Devin Sweet for his second win of the season, and Daniel Robert earned his first save of the season. The loss went to Norfolk starter Cameron Weston.
The IronPigs and Tides play another doubleheader on Saturday starting at 4:05 pm. Purchase IronPigs tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
