The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (16-12) began a six-game series from NBT Bank Stadium on Tuesday night against the Syracuse Mets (14-13). Alan Rangel was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Brandon Waddell of Syracuse.
Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies announced that manager Anthony Contreras had been moved up to be the third base coach after the team fired Rob Thomson. Chris Adamson was named the new Lehigh Valley manager, becoming the seventh manager in franchise history.
In the bottom of the first inning, Syracuse had runners on the corners when former IronPig Christian Arroyo hit Rangel’s four-seam fastball for a three-run home run at 394 feet to center field for a 3-0 lead. It was Arroyo’s first home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 104.6 mph. With two outs, a groundout by Cristian Pache ended the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Christian Cairo worked a four-pitch walk with one out. First baseman Carter Kieboom followed up by hitting Waddell’s sweeper for a two-run home run at 398 feet to left field, cutting the deficit to 3-2. It was Kieboom’s second home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 101.6 mph. With two outs, Oscar Mercado was called out on strikes, and the inning was over.
At the top of the third inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base when Otto Kemp hit an RBI single to left field. Steward Berroa scored, and the game was tied 3-3. Bryan De La Cruz hit into a forceout at second base, and the inning was over.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners with one out when Oscar Mercado hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Carter Kieboom scored to give the IronPigs a 4-3 lead. A groundout by Paul McIntosh ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Syracuse right fielder and former IronPig Cristian Pache hit Rangel’s slider for a solo home run at 378 feet to left field to tie the game 4-4. It was Pache’s second home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 110.1 mph. With two outs, a groundout by Ben Rortvedt ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Syracuse had the bases loaded when a passed ball by Lehigh Valley catcher Paul McIntosh scored Yonny Hernandez to give the Mets a 5-4 lead. Rangel struck out Ryan Clifford and Christian Arroyo, and Ji Hwan Bae’s flyout to left field ended the inning. Alan Rangel pitched five innings, allowing four hits, five runs, two walks, and three strikeouts, throwing 91 pitches, of which 57 were strikes.
Daniel Harper was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the sixth inning. Syracuse had runners in the corners when Yonny Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Cristian Pache scored for a 6-4 lead. With two outs, Ben Rortvedt was caught stealing second base, and the inning was over. Harper allowed a hit, a run, and one walk, throwing 18 pitches, of which nine were strikes, to get three outs.
Jonathan Hernandez was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. Syracuse had a runner on second base when Ryan Clifford hit Hernandez’s slider for a two-run home run at 374 feet to right field for an 8-4 lead. It was Clifford’s fifth home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 102.8 mph.
With two outs, a groundout by Vidal Bruján ended the inning. Hernandez allowed three hits, two runs, and one strikeout, throwing 20 pitches, of which 11 were strikes.
Andrew Walling was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. Syracuse had runners on second and third base when A.J. Ewing hit a two-run RBI double to left field. Cristian Pache and Ben Rortvedt scored for a 10-4 lead. With one out, Ryan Clifford grounded into an inning-ending double play. Walling allowed three hits, two runs, one walk, and one strikeout, throwing 24 pitches, of which 14 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley’s bats went quiet at the top of the ninth inning as they lost to the Mets by the final score of 10-4. Lehigh Valley finished the night with nine hits, committed one error, went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Carter Kieboom went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, and two RBIs. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel (2-2), and the win went to Syracuse pitcher Carlos Guzman (1-0).
The IronPigs and Mets play game two on Wednesday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App. Bryse Wilson (1-2, 8.83 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley. Syracuse has yet to name a starter.
