Rafael Lantigua’s game-winning three-run homer gives the IronPigs a win over Durham

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (69-52, 23-24) played game two on Wednesday night against the Durham Bulls (70-49, 25-19) from Coca-Cola Park. Ryan Cusick (1-0, 10.38 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Logan Workman (8-4, 3.76 ERA) of Durham. The game started with a 45-minute rain delay.

In the bottom of the first inning, Lehigh Valley third baseman Rafael Lantigua hit an RBI single to right field. Otto Kemp scored for a 1-0 lead. At the top of the second inning, Durham shortstop Carson Williams hit Cusick’s slider for a solo home run at 429 feet to center field. The game was tied 1-1. It was Williams’s 23^rd home run of the season.

In the bottom of the second inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Brewer Hicklen hit Workman’s slider for a solo home run at 370 feet to left field. The IronPigs took a 2-1 lead. It was Hicklen’s 11^th home run of the season.

At the top of the third inning, Durham right fielder Tristan Peters hit a two-run RBI double to right field. Kameron Misner and Cooper Hummel scored, and the Bulls took a 3-2 lead. It was Peters’s 25^th double of the season. Lehigh Valley starter Ryan Cusick pitched three innings. He allowed three hits, three runs, two walks, and five strikeouts throwing 59 pitches, of which 39 were strikes.

Moving to the top of the fourth inning, Durham third baseman Coco Montes hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Jamie Westbrook scored, and the Bulls extended their lead to 4-2.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners with two outs and third baseman Rafael Lantigua coming to bat. With the count 2-0, Lantigua hit Kodi Whitley’s four-seam fastball for a game-winning three-run home run at 340 feet to left field. The IronPigs defeated the Bulls 5-4.

Lehigh Valley’s offense finished the night with 10 hits, went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left 10 men on base. Third baseman Rafael Lantigua went 3 for 4 with two singles, a home run, and four RBIs.

Lehigh Valley’s bullpen pitched six innings. They allowed two hits, one run, three walks, and seven strikeouts. The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Seth Johnson. It was his third win of the season. He pitched one inning with one strikeout throwing 12 pitches, of which eight were strikes. The loss went to Durham relief pitcher Kodi Whitley.

The IronPigs and Bulls played game three on Thursday at 6:45 pm.