The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (65-49, 19-21) visited Sahlen Field on Tuesday night to begin a six-game series against the Buffalo Bisons (44-67, 14-24). Aaron Nola (0-0, 1.35 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his second rehab start against Easton Lucas (2-3, 4.91 ERA) of Buffalo.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. Buffalo had a runner on second base when center fielder Jonatan Clase hit an RBI double to right field. Josh Rivera scored to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead. Next, left fielder Yohendrick Pinango hit an RBI single to left field. Jonatan Clase scored for a 2-0 lead.
Buffalo first baseman Phil Clarke hit a two-run RBI single to center field. A fielding error by Justin Crawford allowed Yohendrick Pinango and Brandon Valenzuela to score for a 4-0 lead.
Then, a wild pitch by Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Brett de Geus scored Orelvis Martinez for a 5-0 lead. Lehigh Valley starter Aaron Nola pitched 5.2 innings. He allowed four hits, two runs, and 11 strikeouts throwing 84 pitches, of which 61 were strikes.
Moving to the bottom of the seventh inning, Buffalo third baseman Riley Tirotta hit an RBI single to right field. R.J. Schreck scored for a 6-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley’s offense struggled in this game, getting shut out by Buffalo 6-0. They had one hit, committed one error, 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position, walked three times, and left three men on base. Alec Bohm went 0 for 4. The bullpen pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, four runs, three walks, and two strikeouts.
The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Aaron Nola, and the win went to Buffalo relief pitcher Andrew Bash. It was his fifth win of the season.
The IronPigs and Bisons play game two on Wednesday at 1:05 pm.
