The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (50-30) concluded a six-game series on Sunday afternoon against the Buffalo Bisons (32-47) from Sahlen Field. Nabil Crismatt (4-5, 3.75 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Adam Kloffenstein (1-2, 4.75 ERA) of Buffalo.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit an RBI single to right field scoring Cal Stevenson for a 1-0 lead. At the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Erick Brito hit an RBI triple to center field scoring Nick Dunn for a 2-0 lead. It was Brito’s first triple of the season.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Buffalo shortstop Josh Rivera hit Crismatt’s sinker for a three-run home run at 386 feet to center field for a 3-2 lead. It was Rivera’s third home run of the season.
Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley at the bases loaded when third baseman Rafael Lantigua hit an RBI single to pitcher Ryan Jennings scoring Keaton Anthony to tie the game 3-3. With two outs, Gabriel Rincones Jr. was picked off at third base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eleventh inning, Buffalo center fielder Will Robertson hit a game-winning RBI single to center field scoring Michael Stefanic. The IronPigs lose to the Bisons by the final score of 4-3. They take 4 of 6 games in Buffalo.
Lehigh Valley had eight hits, went 3 of 16 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base. Lehigh Valley starter Nabil Crismatt pitched six innings, allowing six hits, three runs, and two strikeouts throwing 76 pitches, of which 50 were strikes. The loss went to relief pitcher Michael Mercado. It was his first loss of the season as he pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, one run, and two strikeouts in 19 pitches, of which 13 were strikes. The win went to Buffalo relief pitcher Andrew Bash.
Next week, the IronPigs will split a home-and-home series beginning on Tuesday against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at 7:05 pm. Lehigh Valley will host three games and head to Moosic for the other three games.
