The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (85-57, 39-29) concluded the six-game series on Sunday afternoon against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (83-58, 45-24) from PNC Field. Gabe Mosser (3-5, 5.75 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Kenta Maeda (2-2, 5.66 ERA) of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Rodolfo Castro hit a two-run RBI single to center field. Brewer Hicklen and Gabriel Rincones Jr. scored for a 2-0 lead. It was Castro’s 80th RBI of the season.
Moving to the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley catcher Josh Breaux hit an RBI double to left field. Brewer Hicklen scored for a 3-0 lead. It was Breaux’s fourth double of the season. Then, first baseman Christian Arroyo hit an RBI single to center field. Josh Breaux scored. The IronPigs extended their lead to 4-0.
Lehigh Valley starter Gabe Mosser pitched 5.1 innings. He allowed three hits, four walks, and six strikeouts throwing 91 pitches, of which 56 were strikes.
Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Christian Arroyo hit a soft RBI single to second baseman Jorbit Vivas. Brewer Hicklen scored for a 5-0 lead. Then, designated hitter Paul McIntosh hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Rodolfo Castro scored for a 6-0 lead.
Tommy McCollum pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre second baseman Jorbit Vivas hit an RBI double to right field. Braden Shewmake scored, and it was now 6-1. McCollum allowed two hits and one run throwing 29 pitches, of which 19 were strikes, as the IronPigs defeated the RailRiders 6-1.
With the win, Lehigh Valley is 5.5 games behind the RailRiders for first place in the International League’s Second Half Division heading into the final week of the regular season.
Lehigh Valley wins the season series 11-10 to take home the IronRail Trophy. Lehigh Valley finished the afternoon with 11 hits, went 3 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Brewer Hicklen went 2 for 3 with a walk, a stolen base, and was hit by a pitch. Rodolfo Castro went 2 for 5 with two RBIs, and Christian Arroyo went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
Lehigh Valley’s bullpen pitched 3.2 innings. They allowed three hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts. The win went to Lehigh Valley starter Gabe Mosser. It was his fourth win of the season. The loss went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Kenta Maeda.
Lehigh Valley returns to the Coca-Cola Park to begin the final week of the regular season starting on Tuesday against the Syracuse Mets at 6:45 pm.
