The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (68-52, 22-24) returned to Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday night to begin a six-game series against the Durham Bulls (70-48, 25-18). Alan Rangel (5-3, 4.69 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Forrest Whitley (3-1, 1.76 ERA) of Durham.
Before the game started, the Philadelphia Phillies made a couple of moves in the last two days. First, they called up Nolan Hoffman, who appeared in last night’s game, and was sent back down along with Max Lazar. Jose Alvarado was reinstated to the 40-man roster, and LHP Josh Walker was designated for assignment.
In the bottom of the first inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Oscar Mercado hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Johan Rojas scored for a 1-0 lead. It was Mercado’s 55th RBI of the season.
Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel pitched 3.2 innings. He allowed two hits, three walks, and four strikeouts throwing 59 pitches, of which 36 were strikes.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Oscar Mercado hit an RBI double to left field. Otto Kemp scored for a 2-0 lead. It was Mercado’s 13th double of the season. Then, catcher Garrett Stubbs hit Cole Sulser’s cutter for a three-run home run at 372 feet to right-center field. The IronPigs extended their lead to 5-0. It was Stubbs’s eighth home run of the season.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley center fielder Justin Crawford hit an RBI single to center field. Rafael Lantigua scored for a 6-0 lead. Later, a wild pitch by Evan Reifert scored Justin Crawford for a 7-0 lead. Then, right fielder Brewer Hicklen worked a four-pitch walk to score Donovan Walton, and it was now 8-0.
At the top of the seventh inning, Durham left fielder Cooper Hummel hit Lucas Sims’s sweeper for a two-run home run at 356 feet to right field. Lehigh Valley’s lead was now 8-2. It was Hummel’s first home run of the season.
Michael Mercado pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. He walked one and struck out throwing 14 pitches, of which 8 were strikes, to get the final three outs of the game. The IronPigs defeated the Bulls 8-2.
Lehigh Valley’s offense finished the night with eight hits, went 3 for 16 with runners in scoring position, and left 14 men on base. Justin Crawford went 2 for 5 with two singles, one run RBI, and two stolen bases. He extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Lehigh Valley third baseman Rafael Lantigua set the franchise record with five walks in a game.
The bullpen pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two hits, two runs, three walks, and seven strikeouts. The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Daniel Harper for his second win of the season. He pitched 1.1 innings with two strikeouts throwing 14 pitches, of which 9 were strikes. The loss went to Durham starter Forrest Whitley.
The IronPigs and Bulls play game two on Wednesday at 6:45 pm.
