The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (37-44, 2-4) concluded the 12-game homestand on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park against the Syracuse Mets (42-39, 4-2). Andrew Painter was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Dan Hammer of Syracuse.
In the bottom of the second inning, Bryan De La Cruz was on first base when Lehigh Valley catcher Paul McIntosh hit an RBI single to right field. A throwing error by shortstop Vidal Brujan allowed Cruz to score to give the IronPigs a 1-0 lead. Carter Kieboom followed up by hitting an RBI double to left field, scoring McIntosh for a 2-0 lead. With two outs, Dylan Moore was called out on strikes to end the inning.
At the top of the third inning, Andrew Painter walked the first two batters. With two outs, Nick Morabito hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Grae Kessinger, and it was now 2-1. A groundout by Ji Hwan Bae ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Lehigh Valley would get the run back when Felix Reyes hit Jack Wenninger’s sinker for a solo home run onto the berm at 432 feet to left-center field for a 3-1 lead. It was his 18th home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 111.1 mph. With two outs, Paul McIntosh struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Lehigh Valley starter Andrew Painter gave up a walk and a single at the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Hayden Senger grounded into a forceout at second base, and the inning was over. Painter went four innings, allowing two hits, one run, three walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 80 pitches, of which 44 were strikes. Ryan Cusick pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the fifth inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, Syracuse had a runner on third base with one out when Yonny Hernandez hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Ji Hwan Bae, and it was now 3-2. Hernandez was caught stealing second, and a groundout by Ben Rortvedt ended the inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, Syracuse had runners on first and second base when Grae Kessinger stole third base, and Hayden Senger stole second base. A throwing error by McIntosh allowed Kessinger to score, tying the game 3-3.
Victor Brujan followed up by hitting an RBI single to center field, scoring Senger for a 4-3 lead. Ryan Cusick was replaced by Mitch Neunborn. With two outs, a groundout by Ji Hwan Bae ended the inning. Ryan Cusick went 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, three runs, one walk, and two strikeouts, throwing 44 pitches, of which 27 were strikes.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley center field Steward Berroa hit a single to center field, and Robert Moore worked a four-pitch walk with nobody out. A wild pitch by Ryan Lambert moved both runners up a base. Dylan Moore flies out to left fielder Cristian Pache. A throwing error by Pache allowed Berroa to score, tying the game 4-4. With two outs, a groundout by Otto Kemp ended the inning.
At the top of the eighth inning, Syracuse had a runner on first base when Ben Rortvedt hit an RBI double to right field, scoring Yonny Hernandez for a 5-4 lead. Mitch Neunborn was replaced by Lou Trivino. With two outs, Trivino struck out Hayden Senger to end the inning.
Mitch Neunborn went 1.1 innings, allowing a hit, a run, a walk, and striking out two, throwing 26 pitches, of which 17 were strikes. Trivino went 1.1 innings with two strikeouts, throwing 14 pitches, of which 10 were strikes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Steward Berroa worked a four-pitch walk with nobody out. With two outs, Felix Reyes struck out swinging, and the game was over. The IronPigs lose the series finale 5-4, and take 2 of 6 games from the Mets.
Lehigh Valley finished the afternoon with six hits, committed one error, went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Steward Berroa went 1 for 2 with two walks, a run, and a stolen base. The loss went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Mitch Neunborn (0-1), while the win went to Syracuse pitcher Ryan Lambert (3-1), and Nate Lavender earned his second save of the season.
The IronPigs hit the road beginning on Tuesday from ESL Ballpark against the Rochester Red Wings at 6:45 pm on the MLB App.
