The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (29-35) visited PNC Field to begin a six-game series on Tuesday night against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (32-31). Tucker Davidson was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Elmer Rodríguez of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The game was scoreless in the first two and a half innings. In the bottom of the third inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had a runner on second base when Jasson Domínguez hit Davidson’s slider for a two-run home run to left field to give the RailRiders a 2-0 lead. It was his fourth home run of the season. With two outs, a groundout by Tyler Hardman ended the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had a runner on second base when Kenedy Corona hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Jonathan Ornelas for a 3-0 lead. Corona would later steal third base. Two batters later, George Lombard Jr. scored Corona with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 4-0 lead. With one out, Marco Luciano grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Lehigh Valley starter Tucker Davidson went four innings, allowing six hits, four runs, three walks, and five strikeouts, throwing 77 pitches, of which 46 were strikes. Andrew Bechtold pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had a runner on first base when Jonathan Ornelas hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Tyler Hardman for a 5-0 lead. With two outs, a groundout by Kenedy Corona ended the inning. Bechtold allowed two hits, one run, and one walk, throwing 26 pitches, of which 17 were strikes, to get three outs.
Kyle Backhus pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the sixth inning. He allowed two hits and struck out two, throwing 27 pitches, of which 18 were strikes. At the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Keaton Anthony worked a four-pitch walk with one out, and Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit a single to left field. With two outs, designated hitter Carter Kieboom hit a two-run RBI double to left field, scoring Anthony and Rincones Jr. The IronPigs trailed the RailRiders 5-2. Lehigh Valley second baseman Dylan Moore worked a four-pitch walk, but Rene Pinto struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Ryan Cusick pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cusick went two innings, allowing one run and three strikeouts, throwing 37 pitches, of which 22 were strikes. The IronPigs went on to lose the series opener to the RailRiders 5-2.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with six hits, committed one error, went 1 for 3 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Tucker Davidson (3-3), and the win went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Elmer Rodríguez (2-3).
The IronPigs and RailRiders play game two on Wednesday at 7:05 pm on the MLB App. Brian Keller (0-1, 2.00 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has yet to name a starter.
