The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (60-39, 14-11) and the Norfolk Tides (38-59, 8-16) played game five on Friday night from Coca-Cola Park. Adonis Medina (0-1, 4.50 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Roansy Contreras (6-2, 4.19 ERA) of Norfolk.
At the top of the second inning, Norfolk shortstop Luis Vázquez grounded out to second baseman Donovan Walton. Emmanuel Rivera scored to give the Tides a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit Contreras’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 411 feet to right field, and the game was tied 1-1. It was Rincones Jr.’s 11th home run of the season.
Lehigh Valley starter Adonis Medina pitched four innings. He allowed six hits, one run, one walk, and two strikeouts throwing 58 pitches, of which 39 were strikes.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning. Lehigh Valley right fielder Oscar Mercado hit an RBI single to left field. Cal Stevenson scored, and it was now 2-1. Later, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with one out. Third baseman Rafael Lantigua worked a four-pitch walk, and Donovan Walton scored. Lehigh Valley extended its lead to 3-1.
Next, Rodolfo Castro worked a four-pitch walk, and Oscar Mercado scored for a 4-1 lead. Then, catcher Payton Henry hit a two-run RBI single to center field. Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Rafael Lantigua scored for a 6-1 lead. It was Henry’s 29th RBI of the year.
Lehigh Valley center fielder Cal Stevenson followed up with an RBI single to shortstop Luis Vazquez. Rodolfo Castro scored for a 7-1 lead.
Phil Bickford closed out the game at the top of the ninth inning. He allowed one hit, one walk, and one strikeout throwing 24 pitches, of which 14 were strikes to get the final outs of the game. The IronPigs defeated the Tides 7-1 to win their fifth consecutive game.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 10 hits, went 3 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base. The bullpen pitched five innings, allowing seven hits, three walks, and four strikeouts.
The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Josh Walker for his second win of the season. He pitched one inning, allowing one hit, one walk, and one strikeout throwing 16 pitches, of which 10 were strikes. The loss went to Norfolk relief pitcher Chayce McDermott.
The IronPigs and Tides conclude the six-game series on Sunday at 1:35 pm.
