The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (82-55, 36-27) visited PNC Field to begin a crucial six-game series on Tuesday night against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (81-55, 43-21). Gabe Mosser (3-5, 5.91 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Kenta Maeda (5-6, 5.79 ERA) of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
On Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies called up infielders Otto Kemp and Donovan Walton. Meanwhile, shortstop Aidan Miller was promoted to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Miller hit .259, .382 OBP, .427 SLG, .809 OPS with 105 hits, 13 home runs, 41 RBIs, 52 stolen bases, and struck out 116 times in 108 games.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Christian Arroyo hit an RBI single to right field. Aidan Miller scored for a 1-0 lead. Later, Lehigh Valley second baseman Rafael Lantigua hit a sacrifice bunt to pitcher Kenta Maeda. Gabriel Rincones Jr. scored for a 2-0 lead.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre center fielder Jose Rojas hit Mosser’s sinker for a two-run home run at 395 feet to left-center field, and the game was tied 2-2. It was Rojas’s 28th home run of the season.
Lehigh Valley starter Gabe Mosser pitched five innings. He allowed two hits, two runs, two walks, and five strikeouts throwing 96 pitches, of which 56 were strikes.
Moving to the bottom of the seventh inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre center field Jose Rojas hit Seth Johnson’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 393 feet to right field. The IronPigs trailed the RailRiders 3-2. It was Rojas’s 29th home run of the season.
At the top of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on third base. Second baseman Rafael Lantigua grounded out to shortstop Braden Shewmake. Gabriel Rincones Jr. scored, and the game was tied 3-3.
At the top of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley center fielder Johan Rojas hit a two-run RBI double to left field. Josh Breaux and Rodolfo Castro scored to give the IronPigs a 5-3 lead. It was Rojas’s sixth double of the season.
Devin Sweet pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the ninth inning. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre left fielder Brennen Davis hit an RBI double off second baseman Rafael Lantigua. Duke Ellis scored, and it was now 5-4.
Sweet allowed one hit, one run, and two walks throwing 27 pitches, of which 14 were strikes, to get the final three outs of the game. The IronPigs defeated the RailRiders 5-4. Sweet earned his second save of the season. They are now 6.5 games behind the RailRiders for first place in the second-half division.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with nine hits, went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. Aiden Miller went 0 for 2 with three walks and three stolen bases. Johan Rojas went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBIs.
The bullpen pitched four innings, allowing three hits, two runs, two walks, and three strikeouts. The win went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Phil Bickford. He pitched one inning, allowing one hit and one strikeout throwing 10 pitches, of which seven were strikes. The loss went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre relief pitcher Jake Bird.
The IronPigs and RailRiders play game two on Wednesday at 1:05 pm.
