Rodolfo Castro’s walk-off home run gives Lehigh Valley a series opener win over Norfolk

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (56-39, 10-11) started a six-game series on Tuesday afternoon against the Norfolk Tides (38-55, 8-12) from Coca-Cola Park. Nabil Crismatt (5-5, 3.90 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Thaddeus Ward (6-6, 6.53 ERA) of Norfolk.

At the top of the first inning, Norfolk second baseman Jeremiah Jackson hit Crismatt’s sinker for a solo home run at 373 feet to right field for a 1-0 lead. It was his 11^th home run of the season.

Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had Gabriel Rincones Jr. on second base with one out. Right fielder Oscar Mercado hit an RBI single to left field scoring Rincones Jr. The game was tied 1-1. It was Mercado’s 49^th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley had a chance to take the lead, but second baseman Donovan Walton grounded into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.

Oscar's got that clutch gene🔥 #ironpigs #milb #minorleaguebaseball pic.twitter.com/6ynXBBYdh9
— Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) July 22, 2025

Lehigh Valley starter Nabil Crismatt pitched six innings, allowing three hits, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts throwing 81 pitches, of which 53 were strikes. At the top of the eighth inning, Norfolk catcher Silas Ardoin hit Devin Sweet’s changeup for a solo home run at 402 feet to left-center field to give the Tides a 2-1 lead. It was his second home run of the season.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Keaton Anthony hit Elvin Rodríguez’s sweeper for a solo home run at 362 feet to left field. The game was tied again 2-2. It was Anthony’s first home run of the season.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Rodolfo Castro ended the game hitting Matt Bowman’s cutter for a walk-off solo home run at 381 feet to left field. It was Castro’s 11^th home run of the season. The IronPigs defeated the Tides 3-2.

"Rodolfo Castro did not want to wait around!"

The @Phillies SS swats the first pitch of the ninth out at 110.9 mph for his second career walk-off dinger for the @IronPigs to close out the MLB Pipeline Prospect Showcase. pic.twitter.com/8tDQsEhSHD
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 22, 2025

Lehigh Valley finished the game with seven hits, seven walks, 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base. Lehigh Valley’s bullpen pitched three innings, allowing two hits, one run, and three strikeouts.

The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Nolan Hoffman for his first win of the season. He pitched one inning, allowing one hit and one strikeout throwing 11 pitches, of which 9 were strikes. The loss went to Norfolk relief pitcher Matt Bowman.

The IronPigs and Tides play game two on Wednesday at 7:05 pm.