The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (58-62, 23-22) visited Sahlen Field on Tuesday night to begin a six-game series against the Buffalo Bisons (60-61, 25-21). Chuck King was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Grant Rogers of Buffalo.
The game was scoreless in the first three innings. At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base with two outs when Christian Cairo hit an RBI double to center field, scoring Colby Thomas for a 1-0 lead. A flyout by Paul McIntosh ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, Tommy Pham hit a single to left field. With one out, Lehigh Valley center fielder Kameron Misner hit a two-run home run at 374 feet to right field for a 3-0 lead. It was his 17th home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 104.5 mph. With two outs, a flyout by Colby Thomas ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley starter Chuck King went six innings, allowing three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 88 pitches, of which 54 were strikes. At the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with one out when Keaton Anthony hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Tommy Pham for a 4-0 lead. Colby Thomas struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Kyle Backhus pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. Backhus allowed a walk, throwing 14 pitches, of which eight were strikes. At the top of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on third base with two outs when Paul McIntosh hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Dylan Moore for a 5-0 lead. It was his 36th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley put one more runner on base before a flyout from Rafael Marchan ended the inning.
Max Lazar pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lazar put a runner on base with one out when Sean Keys hit an RBI triple to right field, scoring Josh Kasevich. It was now 5-1. Lazar struck out Yohendrick Piñango and Davis Schneider to end the inning. Lazar allowed two hits, one run, and three walks, throwing 21 pitches, of which 13 were strikes.
Lou Trivino III pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the ninth inning. Trivino III allowed two hits and struck out one, throwing 19 pitches, of which 14 were strikes, to get the final three outs of the game. The IronPigs take the opening series with a 5-1 win. Lehigh Valley finished the night with 12 hits, went 4 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and left 10 men on base.
Tommy Pham went 3 for 4 with a walk and a double, while Kameron Misner went 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs. The win went to Lehigh Valley starter Chuck King (8-6), and the loss went to Buffalo starter Grant Rogers (3-10).
The IronPigs and Bisons play game two at 1:05 pm on the MLB App and Bally Sports Live. Drake Fellows (4-2, 5.37 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Josh Stephan (6-6, 5.65 ERA) of Buffalo.
