The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (11-9) and the St. Paul Saints (8-11) played game five on Saturday afternoon from CHS Field. Ryan Cusick was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Andrew Bash of St. Paul.
Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies made several moves that affected Lehigh Valley. The Phillies called up infielder/outfielder Felix Reyes and RHP Seth Johnson. They also released outfielder Pedro Leon and sent infielder/outfielder Otto Kemp to Lehigh Valley.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Sergio Alcantara hit a double to left field. Center fielder Steward Berroa followed up with a soft bunt RBI single to third base. A throwing error by third baseman Eric Wagaman allowed Alcantara to score and Berroa to second base. The IronPigs took a 1-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley designated hitter Bryan De La Cruz hit Bash’s changeup for a sharp line drive RBI double to center field. Berroa scored for a 2-0 lead. With two outs and runners on first and second base, catcher Caleb Ricketts struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the first inning, St. Paul had a runner on first base when Royce Lewis hit Cusick’s slider for a two-run home run at 381 feet to left field, and the game was tied 2-2. It was Lewis’s first home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 99.6 mph.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs, St. Paul second baseman Tanner Schobel hit Cusick’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 379 feet to center field to give the Saints a 3-2 lead. It was Schobel’s first home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 101.8 mph. Cusick struck out Aaron Sabato, and the inning was over.
At the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with nobody out. Right fielder Oscar Mercado grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, while Christian Cairo scored, and the game was tied 3-3. A wild pitch by St. Paul pitcher Raul Brito allowed Carter Kieboom to score, and the IronPigs took a 4-3 lead. Second baseman Robert Moore worked a four-pitch walk.
Marco Raya was the pitcher for St. Paul. Lehigh Valley shortstop Sergio Alcantara hit an RBI single to right field. Robert Moore scored, and the IronPigs extended their lead to 5-3. During Steward Berroa’s at-bat, Alcantara stole second base. Berroa followed up with an RBI single to right field. Alcantara scored for a 6-3 lead. Berroa was caught stealing second base, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the fifth inning with one out, St. Paul right fielder Emmanuel Rodriguez hit Cusick’s slider for a towering solo home run at 426 feet to right field. The IronPigs now led the Saints 6-4. It was Rodriguez’s fourth home run of the season.
Cusick was replaced by Daniel Harper. Cusick pitched 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, four runs, three walks, and eight strikeouts, throwing 87 pitches, of which 52 were strikes. A groundout by Kyler Fedko ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, St. Paul shortstop Orlando Arcia hit Harper’s sinker for a solo home run at 377 feet to center field. The IronPigs now led the Saints 6-5. It was Arcia’s third home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 107.9 mph.
With two outs, Harper walked Tanner Schobel. Schobel would later steal second base. A groundout by Aaron Sabato to shortstop Sergio Alcantara ended the inning. Harper pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one hit, one run, and one walk, throwing 24 pitches, of which 13 were strikes.
Lou Trivino was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trivino struck out one, throwing 15 pitches, of which eight were strikes, to get three outs.
At the top of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley second baseman Robert Moore hit Dan Altavilla’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 330 feet to right field for a 7-5 lead. It was Moore’s second home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 106.4 mph. Sergio Alcantara, Steward Berroa, and Bryan De La Cruz all struck out.
Trevor Richards was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. Richards walked one and struck out two, throwing 20 pitches, of which 11 were strikes, to get three outs.
At the top of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on first base when third baseman Carter Kieboom hit the ball that bounced off the glove of right fielder Emmanuel Rodriguez, moving Christian Cairo to third base. Catcher Caleb Ricketts hit a two-run RBI double to left field, scoring Cairo and Kieboom for a 9-5 lead.
Later, Robert Moore worked a four-pitch walk, and Caleb Ricketts went to third base on a wild pitch. With Sergio Alcantara up to bat. Moore stole second base. A throwing error by catcher Alex Jackson allowed Ricketts to score for a 10-5 lead. With two outs, a flyout by Alcantara ended the inning.
Richards returned to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, St. Paul first baseman Aaron Sabato hit a solo home run at 396 feet to center field. The IronPigs now led the Saints 10-6. It was Sabato’s first home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 111.6 mph. Richards struck out Walker Jenkins for the second out. He gave up a double to David Bañuelos before striking out Emmanuel Rodriguez, and the game was over.
The IronPigs held on to beat the Saints by the final score of 10-6. They snap a three-game losing streak. Lehigh Valley finished the afternoon with 16 hits, went 7 of 18 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Christian Cairo went 4 for 5, scoring two runs, and Robert Moore went 1 for 3 with a home run, two walks, and two stolen bases.
The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Daniel Harper (1-0), while Trevor Richards earned his first save of the season, and the loss went to St. Paul pitcher Raul Brito.
The IronPigs will look to split the series with the Saints in the series finale on Sunday at 3:07 pm on the MLB App. Tucker Davidson (0-1, 5,79 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against John Klein (1-0, 7.94 ERA) of St. Paul.
