The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (49-28) and the Buffalo Bisons (30-46) played game three on Thursday night from Sahlen Field. Gabe Mosser (2-2, 5.40 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Adam Macko (0-2, 4.91 ERA).
Lehigh Valley did not waste any time putting runs on the board. At the top of the second inning, second baseman Rafael Lantigua hit a two-run RBI triple to center field scoring Josh Breaux and Rodolfo Castro for a 2-0 lead. It was Lantigua’s second triple of the season.
Next, Lehigh Valley right fielder Matt Kroon hit an RBI single to right field scoring Rafael Lantigua for a 3-0 lead, followed by left fielder Weston Wilson hitting an RBI single to right field scoring Matt Kroon for a 4-0 lead.
At the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley third baseman Erick Brito grounded into a forceout at second base scoring Oscar Mercado for a 5-0 lead. With the bases loaded, right fielder Matt Kroon worked a four-pitch walk scoring Josh Breaux and it was now 6-0.
Lehigh Valley left fielder Weston Wilson hit an RBI single to third baseman Michael Stefanic scoring Erick Brito for a 7-0 lead. Then, designated hitter Justin Crawford hit an RBI ground ball single to third baseman Michael Stefanic scoring Garrett Stubbs extending their lead to 8-0.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley catcher Garrett Stubbs hit Trenton Wallace’s slider on the first pitch for a three-run home run at 341 feet to right field for an 11-0 lead. It was Stubbs’s fifth home run of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Buffalo center fielder Will Robertson hit Mosser’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 375 feet to right field and it was now 11-1 Lehigh Valley. It was Robertson’s 13th home run of the season.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Buffalo designated hitter Will Wagner hit Mosser’s slider for a solo home run at 396 feet to right field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was now at 11-2. It was Wagner’s third home run of the season.
At the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Matt Kroon brought Rafael Lantigua home with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 12-2 lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Lucas Sims walked Yohendrick Pinango and Ali Sánchez with the bases loaded and it was now 12-4. Michael Mercado replaced Simms.
He walked Will Wagner, followed by Michael Stefanic hitting an RBI single to left field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was cut in half 12-6. Ali Sánchez had tried to score but Weston Wilson’s throw to Garrett Stubbs was in time to get him out. With two outs, a flyout by Joey Loperfido ended the inning.
Buffalo continued to eat into Lehigh Valley’s lead. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Riley Tirotta hit a two-run single over the head of Rodolfo Casto and into left field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was down to 12-8.
Lehigh Valley’s relief pitchers Seth Johnson and Daniel Robert were able to keep Buffalo off the scoreboard for the rest of the game, allowing one hit and three strikeouts. The IronPigs defeated the Bisons by the final score of 12-8 for their third straight win.
Lehigh Valley second baseman Rafael Lantigua went 3 for 5 with a single, a double, a triple, a hit by pitch, and two RBIs. Catcher Garrett Stubbs went 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs, and left fielder Weston Wilson went 3 for 5 with three singles, a walk, and two RBIs.
Lehigh Valley had 17 hits, went 3 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Lehigh Valley starter Gabe Mosser won his third game of the season. He pitched five innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, and four strikeouts throwing 96 pitches, of which 58 were strikes. The loss went to Buffalo starter Adam Macko. The IronPigs and Bisons play game four on Friday at 6:35 pm.
