The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (18-18) and the Buffalo Bisons (17-19) played game three on Thursday night at Coca-Cola Park. Jean Cabrera was on the mound for the Lehigh Valley against Grant Rogers of Buffalo.
At the top of the first inning, Buffalo had a runner on first base with two outs when R.J. Schreck hit Cabrera’s four-seam fastball for a two-run home run at 390 feet to right field for a 2-0 lead. It was Schreck’s fourth home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 99 mph. Cabrera struck out Riley Tirotta, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the first inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Christian Cairo was hit by a pitch, followed by a double from Steward Berroa with nobody out. Otto Kemp was next. He hit Rogers’s sinker for a three-run home run at 347 feet to left field to give the IronPigs a 3-2 lead. It was Kemp’s third home run of the season, 10th RBI in this series, and the exit velocity off the bat was 100.7 mph. Bryan De La Cruz would hit a single, but no one was able to bring him home.
Moving to the top of the third inning, Buffalo had a runner on first base when Josh Kasevich hit an RBI triple to right field. Ismael Munguia scored, and the game was tied 3-3. With two outs, a lineout by R.J. Schreck ended the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Jean Cabrera walked Riley Tirotta. Two batters later, Rafael Lantigua hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Tirotta for a 4-3 lead. Cabrera walked Carlos Mendoza and Ryan McCarty to load the bases with one out. The inning ended when Ismael Munguia flies out to center fielder Steward Berroa, who threw the ball to catch Caleb Rickkets to get Lantigua out at home plate.
At the top of the fifth inning, Buffalo had runners on first and second base when R.J. Schreck hit an RBI double to center field. Josh Kasevich scored for a 5-3 lead. Lehigh Valley starter Jean Cabrera was replaced by John McMillon. McMillon walked Riley Tirotta to load the bases.
With one out, McMillon walked Rafael Lantigua, forcing in a run for a 6-3 lead. McMillon hit Carlos Mendoza, and R.J. Schreck scored for a 7-3 lead. McMillon continued to give away runs when he walked Ryan McCarty for an 8-3 lead. McMillon walked Ismael Munguia for a 9-3 lead. Josh Kasevich grounded into a forceout to home plate for the second out.
McMillon was replaced by Ryan Cusick. The walks continued when Cusick walked Charles McAdoo for a 10-3 lead. R.J. Schreck hit a two-run RBI single to left field, scoring Ismael Munguia and Ryan McCarty for a 12-3 lead. Riley Tirotta grounded into a forceout at second base, and the inning finally came to an end.
Lehigh Valley starter Jean Cabrera pitched four innings, allowing seven hits, seven runs, four walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 84 pitches, of which 47 were strikes. John McMillon allowed five runs, four walks, and one strikeout, throwing 34 pitches, of which 11 were strikes.
Moving to the top of the eighth inning, Buffalo had a runner on second base when Willie MacIver hit an RBI double to left field. R.J. Schreck scored for a 13-3 lead. With two outs, a groundout by Rafael Lantigua ended the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when Caleb Rickkets hit an RBI single to center field. Liover Peguero scored, and it was now 13-4. With two outs, Robert Moore grounded into a forceout at second base, and the inning was over.
Ryan Cusick finished the night pitching 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, one run, two walks, and three strikeouts, throwing 76 pitches, of which 51 were strikes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when Otto Kemp hit an RBI single to right field. Christan Cairo scored, and the IronPigs trailed the Bisons 13-5. Bryan De La Cruz grounded into a 1-6-3 double play, and Liover Peguero lined out to second base for the final out of the game.
The IronPigs lost to the Bisons by the final score of 13-5. They finished the game with 10 hits, went 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Otto Kemp went 2 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Jean Cabrera (1-2), and the win went to Buffalo pitcher Pat Gallagher (1-0).
The IronPigs and Bisons play game four on Friday at 6:45 pm on the MLB App. Tucker Davidson (1-1, 6.75 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while Buffalo has yet to name a starter.
