The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (65-48, 19-20) concluded a seven-game series on Sunday afternoon against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (67-34, 29-10) from Coca-Cola Park. Andrew Painter (3-4, 4.88 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Brendan Beck (4-1, 4.35) of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Before the game, Alec Bohm began his rehab assignment playing third base. The Phillies recalled RHP David Robertson and sent Alan Rangel back to Lehigh Valley.
In the bottom of the first inning, Lehigh Valley center fielder Johan Rojas hit an RBI groundout to shortstop Jake Gatewood. Justin Crawford scored for a 1-0 lead. Later, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Brewer Hicklin hit Beck’s four-seam fastball for a three-run home run at 358 feet to left field. Lehigh Valley extended its lead to 4-0. It was Hicklin’s ninth home run of the season.
At the top of the second inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre center fielder Duke Ellis hit Painter’s slider for an RBI double to center field. Jake Gatewood scored, and the score was now 4-1. It was Ellis’s ninth double of the season.
At the top of the third inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre left fielder Spencer Jones hit Painter’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 436 feet to left-center field. The IronPigs lead was down to 4-2. It was Jones’s 14th home run of the season.
Moving to the top of the fourth inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre shortstop Jake Gatewood hit Painter’s curveball for a solo home run at 401 feet to left-center field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was down to 4-3. Then, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre second baseman Jorbit Vivas hit an RBI single to right field. Duke Ellis scored, and the game was tied 4-4.
Lehigh Valley starter Andrew Painter had a rough afternoon pitching 4.1 innings. He allowed nine hits, seven runs, two walks, and six strikeouts throwing 87 pitches, of which 56 were strikes.
At the top of the fifth inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre catcher Omar Martinez hit a two-run RBI double to right field. Jose Rojas and Jeimer Candelario scored to take a 6-4 lead. Then, shortstop Jake Gatewood hit Devin Sweet’s changeup for a two-run home run at 378 feet to left-center field for an 8-4 lead. It was Gatewood’s fifth home run of the season.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Luis Verdugo hit Baron Stuart’s sinker for a two-run home run at 409 feet to left-center field. The IronPigs trailed the RailRiders 8-6. It was Verdugo’s second home run of the season.
At the top of the ninth inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre catcher Omar Martinez hit an RBI triple to right field. Spencer Jones scored, and Martinez tried to score but was tagged out. The RailRiders led the IronPigs 9-6. It was Martinez’s first triple of the season.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley third baseman Donovan Walton hit an RBI fielder’s choice. A throwing error by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre first baseman T.J. Rumfield allowed Justin Crawford to score. The IronPigs trailed the RailRiders 9-7.
With runners on first and second base. Lehigh Valley right fielder Cal Stevenson struck out swinging, and the game was over. The IronPigs lose to the RailRiders 9-7. Lehigh Valley finished the game with 12 hits, went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. The bullpen pitched 4.2 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one walk, and four strikeouts.
Alec Bohm in his rehab start went 0 for 4, and Jose Alvarado pitched one inning with one strikeout. Andrew Painter lost his fifth game of the season, and the win went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Brendan Beck.
Lehigh Valley travels to Sahlen Field to begin a six-game series against the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday at 6:35 pm. This will be the final series meeting between these two teams for the season.
