The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (3-0) concluded a three-game series on Sunday afternoon against the Toledo Mud Hens (0-3) from Coca-Cola Park. Ryan Cusick was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Keider Montero of Toledo.
At the top of the first inning, Toledo second baseman Max Anderson hit an RBI single to center field. Wenceel Perez scored for a 1-0 lead. Then, with the bases loaded, Cusick walked Corey Julks to force in a run. It was now 2-0 Toledo with one out. Former IronPig Cal Stevenson struck out, and a forceout by Tomás Nido ended the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Toledo added another run when center fielder Max Clark hit an RBI double to center field. Wenceel Perez scored for a 3-0 lead. Cusick pitched another inning before his day came to an end after the top of the fourth inning. Cusick ended the afternoon pitching four innings, allowing five hits, three runs, three walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 74 pitches, of which 43 were strikes.
Moving to the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Paul McIntosh hit a double to left field. Second baseman Robert Moore was up next. He hit Ty Madden’s four-seam fastball for a two-run home run at 416 feet to right-center field. Lehigh Valley trailed Toledo 3-2. It was Moore’s first home run of the season. The exit velocity of the home run was 104.3 mph.
Moving to the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley catcher Caleb Ricketts hit Ty Madden’s cutter for an RBI single to center field. Pedro Leon scored, and the game was tied 3-3. Lehigh Valley had a chance to take the lead with two outs and runners on first and second base, but Paul McIntosh lined out to center field, and the inning was over.
At the top of the ninth inning, Toledo had a runner on first base when third baseman Jace Jung hit a flyout to center field. However, Lehigh Valley Pedro Leon could not locate the ball. This allowed Wenceel Perez to score, and the Mud Hens took a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley second baseman Robert Moore hit a single to right field, and shortstop Sergio Alcantara worked a four-pitch walk. Right fielder Cade Fergus moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt to first baseman Eduardo Valencia.
This allowed Lehigh Valley center fielder Pedro Leon to bring home Roberts with a sacrifice fly to center field that tied the game 4-4. They had a chance to win it with a runner on third base, but first baseman Felix Reyes grounded out to shortstop Max Burt to end the inning.
At the top of the tenth inning, Toledo second baseman Max Anderson hit an RBI double to left field. Eduardo Valencia scored to give the Mud Hens a 5-4 lead. Next, left fielder Corey Julks hit an RBI ground-rule double to the right-field line. The ball bounced into the stands, and Max Anderson scored for a 6-4 lead. Then, catcher Tomas Nido hit an RBI double to center field. Corey Julks scored for a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Felix Reyes was on second base. Bryan De La Cruz and Christian Cairo walked with one out, which loaded the bases for Paul McIntosh. McIntosh worked a four-pitch walk to force in a run. Reyes scored, and the IronPigs trailed the Mud Hens 7-5.
Toledo changed pitchers with Brenan Hanifee replacing Woo-Suk Go. Lehigh Valley second baseman Robert Moore grounded into a forceout at second base. Bryan De La Cruz scored, and the IronPigs trailed the Mud Hens 7-6.
Lehigh Valley shortstop Sergio Alcantara worked a four-pitch walk, and the bases were loaded again for right fielder Cade Fergus. Fergus ended the game with a game-winning two-run RBI double to right field. Christian Cairo and Robert Moore scored, and the IronPigs completed the weekend sweep by defeating the Mud Hens 8-7.
Lehigh Valley finished the afternoon with seven hits, committed one error, went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Robert Moore went 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs, and Cade Fergus went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Lou Trivino. He pitched two innings, allowing five hits, four runs, and one strikeout, throwing 28 pitches, of which 23 were strikes. The bullpen went six innings, allowing six hits, four runs, three walks, and one strikeout. The loss went to Toledo pitcher Woo-Suk Go.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will hit the road for the first time this season when they play the Durham Bulls beginning on Tuesday at 6:45 pm on the MLB App.
