The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (74-53, 28-25) played game two on Wednesday night against the Omaha Storm Chasers (55-72, 24-29) from Werner Park. Ryan Cusick (1-0, 10.13 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Stephen Kolek (1-3, 7.00 ERA) of Omaha.
In the bottom of the first inning, Omaha catcher Carter Jensen hit an RBI double to right field. John Rave scored, and the Storm Chasers took a 1-0 lead. It was his 10th double of the season.
In the bottom of the second inning, Omaha shortstop Isan Díaz hit Cusick’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 388 feet to right field to extend their lead to 2-0. It was Díaz’s fifth home run of the season. Lehigh Valley starter Ryan Cusick pitched three innings. He allowed five hits, two runs, three walks, and five strikeouts throwing 69 pitches, of which 42 were strikes.
Moving to the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded. Right fielder Brewer Hicklen hit a two-run RBI single to left field. Donovan Walton and Rafael Lantigua scored, and the game was tied 2-2. Then, shortstop Rodolfo Castro hit an RBI single to left field. Gabriel Rincones Jr. scored, and the IronPigs took a 3-2 lead.
At the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when designated hitter Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit Jacob Wallace’s cutter for a three-run home run at 449 feet to right-center field to extend their lead to 6-2. It was Rincones Jr.’s 15th home run of the season.
Lehigh Valley continued to pour it on at the top of the sixth inning. First baseman Otto Kemp hit a two-run RBI double to left field. Rodolfo Castro and Johan Rojas scored for an 8-2 lead. It was Kemp’s 22nd double of the season and 62nd RBI of the year.
Next, third baseman Rafael Lantigua hit a two-run RBI double to right field. Justin Crawford and Otto Kemp scored for a 10-2 lead. It was Lantigua’s 15th double of the season. Designated hitter Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit an RBI single to left field. Donovan Walton scored, and it was now 11-2. For Rincones Jr., it was his fourth RBI of the night.
Lehigh Valley right fielder Brewer Hicklen hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Rafael Lantigua scored for a 12-2 lead. Then, Lehigh Valley shortstop Rodolfo Castro hit Chazz Martinez’s sinker for a three-run home run at 364 feet to right field for a 15-2 lead. It was Castro’s 15th home run of the season and 64th RBI of the year. Once the inning was over, the IronPigs scored nine runs.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Omaha third baseman Bobby Dalbec hit Jacob Waguespack’s cutter for a solo home run at 430 feet to left-center field. It was now 15-3. For Dalbec, it was his 23rd home run of the season.
That would be the final run scored in this game. The IronPigs defeated the Storm Chasers 15-3. Lehigh Valley finished the game with 16 hits, went 10 for 19 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Rodolfo Castro went 4 for 5 with a stolen base, a home run, and four RBIs, while Gabriel Rincones Jr. went 3 for 5 with a walk, a stolen base, a home run, and four RBIs.
Lehigh Valley’s bullpen went six innings, allowing two hits, one run, and seven strikeouts. The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Devin Sweet. It was his third win of the season. He pitched two innings, allowing one hit, throwing 24 pitches, of which 15 were strikes. The loss went to Omaha relief pitcher Beck Way.
The IronPigs and Storm Chasers play game three on Thursday at 7:35 pm.
