The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (73-53, 27-25) started a six-game series at Werner Park on Tuesday against the Omaha Storm Chasers (55-71, 24-28). Mitch Neunborn (0-2, 3.86 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Ben Kudrna (0-0, 8.44 ERA) of Omaha.
Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies made several moves. They called up right hander pitchers Daniel Robert and Lou Trivino from Lehigh Valley, while releasing RHP Joe Ross.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Justin Crawford hit Kudrna’s sinker for an opposite-field two-run home run at 345 feet to left field for a 2-0 lead. It was Crawford’s sixth home run of the season and 45th RBI of the year. Later, the IronPigs had the bases loaded when designated hitter Oscar Mercado hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Donovan Walton scored for a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, Omaha catcher Carter Jensen hit Neunborn’s four-seam fastball for a three-run home run at 376 feet to left-center field. The game was tied 3-3. It was Jensen’s 12th home run of the season.
At the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit a two-run RBI single to center field. Otto Kemp and Donovan Walton scored for a 5-3 lead. It was Rincones Jr.’s 56th RBI of the season. Later, shortstop Rodolfo Castro worked a four-pitch walk, scoring Gabriel Rincones Jr. for a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Omaha left fielder Dairon Blanco hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Jac Caglianone scored, and the score was now 6-4. Lehigh Valley starter Mitch Neunborn pitched 3.2 innings. He allowed six hits, four runs, three walks, and four strikeouts throwing 78 pitches, of which 44 were strikes.
Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Omaha right fielder Jac Caglianone grounded out to second baseman Donovan Walton. M.J. Melendez scored, and the score was now 6-5. Then, catcher Carter Jenson hit Lucas Sims’s cutter for a two-run home run at 388 feet to left-center field. The IronPigs trailed the Storm Chasers 7-6. It was Carter’s 13th home run of the season, and second of the night.
At the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit Luinder Avila’s curveball for a two-run opposite-field home run at 397 feet to left-center field. The IronPigs took an 8-7 lead. It was Rincones Jr.’s 14th home run of the season and 58th RBI of the year. It was also his fourth RBI of the night.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Seth Johnson was pitching for Lehigh Valley. Omaha left fielder Dairon Blanco hit an RBI single to left field. John Rave scored, and the game was tied 8-8. Next, third baseman Bobby Dalbec hit an RBI double to center field. Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen scored, and the IronPigs trailed the Storm Chasers 10-8.
A sacrifice fly by shortstop Isan Díaz scored Dairon Blanco and made it 11-8. Seth Johnson pitched one inning. He allowed three hits, four runs, two walks, and one strikeout throwing 24 pitches, of which 15 were strikes.
At the top of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley second baseman Donovan Walton hit Stephen Nogosek’s curveball for a solo home run at 351 feet to right field. The IronPigs trailed the Storm Chasers 11-9. It was Walton’s 13th home run of the season.
That would be it as Lehigh Valley’s six-game winning streak came to an end with an 11-9 loss to the Storm Chasers. Lehigh Valley finished the game with 11 hits, went 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base.
Donovan Walton went 3 for 5 with a home run and an RBI. Justin Crawford went 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs, while Gabriel Rincones Jr. went 2 for 4 with a walk, home run, and four RBIs. The loss went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Seth Johnson. It was his fifth loss of the season. The win went to Omaha relief pitcher Ryan Hendrix, and Stephen Nogosek earned his second save of the season.
The IronPigs and Storm Chasers play game two on Wednesday at 7:35 pm.
