The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (73-52, 27-24) concluded the six-game series on Sunday afternoon from Coca-Cola Park against the Durham Bulls (70-53, 25-23). Alan Rangel (5-3, 4.50 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Forrest Whitley (3-2, 1.82 ERA) of Durham.
At the top of the second inning, Durham left fielder Cooper Hummel hit Rangel’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 406 feet to right field for a 1-0 lead. It was Hummel’s second home run of the season.
Moving to the top of the third inning, Durham right fielder Kameron Misner hit Rangel’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 399 feet to right-center field for a 2-0 lead. It was Misner’s second home run of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley center fielder Justin Crawford hit Whitley’s changeup for a solo home run at 400 feet to right-center field. The IronPigs trailed the Bulls 2-1. It was Crawford’s fifth home run of the season.
Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel pitched five innings. He allowed three hits, two runs, and seven strikeouts throwing 60 pitches, of which 45 were strikes.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with no one out. Third baseman Donovan Walton hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Johan Rojas scored, and the game was tied 2-2. Then, with runners on the corners, second baseman Rafael Lantigua hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Justin Crawford scored, and the IronPigs took a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Brewer Hicklen hit Joe Rock’s sinker for a solo home run at 393 feet to right-center field. The IronPigs extended their lead to 4-2. It was Hicklen’s 12th home run of the season.
Lehigh Valley added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when catcher Payton Henry hit an RBI single to right field. Otto Kemp scored, and it was now 5-2.
Max Lazar pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Durham center fielder Tristan Peters hit an RBI single to right field. Tre’ Morgan scored, and it was now 5-3.\
Next, shortstop Tanner Murray hit an RBI double to left field. Dominic Keegan scored. It was now 5-4. With two outs, Lazar struck out Coco Montes to end the game. The IronPigs defeated the Bulls 5-4 to complete the six-game sweep. Lazar threw 30 pitches, of which 17 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley finished the afternoon with eight hits, went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Justin Crawford went 2 for 4 with a single, a home run, and one RBI. Otto Kemp went 1 for 3 with a single and a stolen base.
The bullpen pitched four innings, allowing five hits, two runs, one walk, and four strikeouts. The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Nolan Hoffman. He pitched one inning throwing 14 pitches, of which eight were strikes. Max Lazar earned his fourth save of the season, and the loss went to Durham starter Forrest Whitley.
The IronPigs are on the road starting on Tuesday against the Omaha Storm Chasers at 7:35 pm.
