The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (10-6) visited CHS Field for the first time in franchise history on Tuesday night to begin a six-game series against the St. Paul Saints (5-10). Jean Cabrera was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Andrew Bash.
Before the game started, the Philadelphia Phillies traded RHP Griff McGarry to the Los Angeles Dodgers for an international bonus pool space and a player to be named later, or cash considerations. They also recalled RHP Chase Shugart.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when right fielder Bryan De La Cruz hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Sergio Alcantara scored for a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, with two outs and a runner on third base, catcher Garrett Stubbs hit a bunt RBI single to third base. Steward Berroa scored for a 2-0 lead. A groundout by first baseman Caleb Ricketts ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when second baseman Liover Peguero hit a line drive two-run RBI double to left field. Felix Reyes and Garrett Stubbs scored, extending Lehigh Valley’s lead to 4-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, St. Paul had a runner on third base when Walker Jenkins grounded out to first baseman Caleb Ricketts. Alex Jackson scored, and the Saints trailed the IronPigs 4-1.
Moving the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley’s defense made mistakes that allowed St. Paul to get back into the game. With the bases loaded, St. Paul second baseman Orlando Arcia grounded into a forceout at third base. Third baseman Christian Cairo threw a wide ball to Caleb Ricketts, and Arcia was safe at first base. The Saints trailed the IronPigs 4-2.
Two batters later, St. Paul catcher Alex Jackson hit an RBI single to second baseman Liover Peguero. Orlando Arica scored, and the Saints trailed the IronPigs 4-3. Tanner Schobel followed up with a base hit. He reached first base on a fielding error by third baseman Christian Cairo. Kyle Fedko and Alex Jackson scored to give the Saints a 5-4 lead. A groundout by Walker Jenkins ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley starter Jean Cabrera loaded the bases before he was replaced with Lou Trivino. Cabrera pitched 4.1 innings, allowing six hits, five runs, two walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 80 pitches, of which 45 were strikes. With one out, Trivino struck out Orlando Arcia and Kyler Fedko to end the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, Carter Kieboom hit a single to third base. Lehigh Valley third baseman Christian Cairo followed up by hitting Trent Baker’s four-seam fastball for a two-run home run at 364 feet to center field to give the IronPigs a 6-5 lead. It was Cairo’s first home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 100.3 mph.
Later, Lehigh Valley had a runner on third base when left fielder Felix Reyes hit an RBI single to left field. Sergio Alcantara scored for a 7-5 lead with two outs. A flyout by Garrett Stubbs ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, St. Paul catcher Alex Jackson hit Trivino’s cutter for a solo home run at 416 feet to center field. The IronPigs now led the Saints 7-6. It was Jackson’s second home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 105.1 mph. With two outs, Trivino struck out Alan Roden to end the inning. Trivino pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, one run, and four strikeouts, throwing 33 pitches, of which 22 were strikes.
At the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when shortstop Sergio Alcantara hit an RBI double to right field. Carter Kieboom scored for an 8-6 lead. With two outs, a groundout by Steward Berroa ended the inning.
John McMillon was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. McMillon allowed two walks and one strikeout, throwing 35 pitches, of which 21 were strikes.
Génesis Cabrera was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs, St. Paul left fielder Alan Roden hit Cabrera’s cutter for a solo home run at 380 feet to right field. The IronPigs now led the Saints 8-7. It was Roden’s second home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 110 mph. Cabrera struck out Gabriel Gonzalez, and the inning was over.
At the top of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley add insurance runs when center fielder Steward Berroa hit Zak Kent’s slider for a three-run home run at 388 feet to right field for an 11-7 lead. It was Berroa’s first home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 99.8 mph. With one out, Bryan De La Cruz struck out, and Felix Reyes flies out to center field, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Nolan Hoffman was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. Hoffman allowed one walk and struck out three, throwing 23 pitches, of which 10 were strikes, to end the game. The IronPigs held on to beat the Saints by the final score of 11-7.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 15 hits, committed three errors, went 7 for 20 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base. Christian Cairo went 3 for 4 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, and two stolen bases, while Steward Berroa went 3 for 6 with two singles, a home run, and three RBIs. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Lou Trivino, and the loss went to St. Paul pitcher Trent Baker.
The IronPigs and Saints continue their six-game series on Wednesday at 7:37 pm on the MLB App. Bryse Wilson (0-1, 10.57 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against John Klein (1.0, 7.88 ERA) of St. Paul.
