The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (75-53, 29-25) played game three on Thursday night against the Omaha Storm Chasers (55-73, 24-30) from Werner Park. Andrew Painter (4-5, 5.11 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Shane Panzini (0.0, 0.00 ERA) of Omaha.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Otto Kemp hit Panzini’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run to center field for a 1-0 lead. It was Kemp’s 15th home run of the season. Then, right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit Panzini’s curveball for a solo home run at 432 feet to center field for a 2-0 lead. It was Rincones Jr.’s 16th home run of the season.
In the bottom of the second inning, Omaha third baseman Bobby Dalbec hit an RBI double to right field. Dairon Blanco scored, and Lehigh Valley’s lead was down to 2-1. Then, shortstop Isan Díaz hit Painter’s four-seam fastball for a two-run home run at 412 feet to center field. The IronPigs trailed the Storm Chasers 3-2. It was his sixth home run of the season.
At the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit Panzini’s four-seam fastball for an opposite-field solo home run at 406 feet to left field, and the game was tied 3-3. It was Rincones Jr.’s 17th home run of the season, and the second of the night.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second when shortstop Rodolfo Castro hit Panzini’s four-seam fastball for a three-run home run at 432 feet to left-center field. The IronPigs took a 6-3 lead. It was Castro’s 16th home run of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Omaha third baseman Bobby Dalbec hit an RBI double to center field. Dairon Blanco scored, and the IronPigs led the Storm Chasers 6-4. It was Dalbec’s 22nd double of the season.
Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Omaha second baseman Harold Castro grounded out to first baseman Otto Kemp. Drew Waters scored, and the IronPigs led the Storm Chasers 6-5. Then, third baseman Bobby Dalbec hit an RBI single to right field. Dairon Blanco scored, and the game was tied 6-6.
Andrew Painter finished the game pitching six innings. He allowed nine hits, six runs, three walks, and seven strikeouts throwing 95 pitches, of which 58 were strikes.
At the top of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley third baseman Rafael Lantigua hit Stephen Nogosek’s curveball for a two-run home run to center field to give the IronPigs an 8-6 lead. It was Lantigua’s seventh home run of the season.
Then, center fielder Justin Crawford hit Nogosek’s curveball for a two-run home run at 418 feet to right-center field for a 10-6 lead. It was Crawford’s seventh home run of the season.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Omaha second baseman Harold Castro grounded out to first baseman Otto Kemp. Drew Walters and the IronPigs lead was now 10-7.
Max Lazar pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. He struck out one, throwing 18 pitches, of which 11 were strikes to get the final three outs of the game. The IronPigs defeated the Storm Chasers 10-7.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 10 hits, went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Gabriel Rincones Jr. went 2 for 5 with two home runs and two RBIs. Rodolfo Castro went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs.
The bullpen pitched three innings, allowing one hit, one run, and two strikeouts. The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Nolan Hoffman. It was his fifth win of the season after pitching one inning, allowing one hit, one run, and one strikeout, throwing 30 pitches, of which 20 were strikes. The loss went to Omaha relief pitcher Stephen Nogosek.
The IronPigs and Storm Chasers play game four on Friday at 7:35 pm.
