The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (63-70, 28-30) and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (70-61, 33-24) played game three on Wednesday night at PNC Field. Casey Lawrence was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Alexander Cornielle for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners with one out when Keaton Anthony hit an RBI double to right field, scoring Otto Kemp to put the IronPigs up 1-0. Kameron Misner tried to score from first base, but was called out at home plate. A flyout by Alex Binelas ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had runners on second and third base when Jasson Domínguez hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Jarred Kelenic, and the game was tied 1-1. J.C. Escarra followed up by hitting an RBI single to right field, scoring Anthony Volpe to give the RailRiders a 2-1 lead. Marco Luciano hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Jasson Domínguez for a 3-1 lead. Oswaldo Cabrera grounded into a forceout at second base, scoring J.C. Escarra for a 4-1 lead. After giving up a single, Lawrence came back to get the final two outs to end the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the third inning, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had a runner on first base with one out when Yanquiel Fernández hit Lawrence’s sinker for a two-run home run at 377 feet to right field for a 6-1 lead. It was his 23rd home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 100.8 mph. With two outs, Lawrence struck out Jarred Kelenic to retire the side.
In the bottom of the fifth inning with one out, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre third baseman Max Schuemann hit Lawrence’s sweeper for a solo home run at 397 feet to left field for a 7-1 lead. It was his fourth home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 106.9 mph. Lawrence was replaced by Max Lazar. Casey Lawrence went 4.1 innings, allowing 12 hits, seven runs, and four strikeouts, throwing 94 pitches, of which 61 were strikes. With two outs, a lineout by Anthony Volpe to right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. ended the inning. Lazar went 1.2 innings, allowing a walk and two strikeouts, throwing 27 pitches, of which 17 were strikes.
At the top of the seventh inning with two outs, Lehigh Valley left fielder Otto Kemp hit Cornielle’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 392 feet to left-center field. The IronPigs trailed the RailRiders 7-2. It was Kemp’s 14th home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 104.3 mph. Kameron Misner struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Lou Trivino III pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trivino put a runner on base with one out when Yanquiel Fernández hit his four-seam fastball for a two-run home run at 428 feet to center field for a 9-2 lead. It was his 24th home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 104.2 mph. Trivino III struck out Jarred Kelenic to end the inning. Trivino III allowed two hits, two runs, and two strikeouts, throwing 22 pitches, of which 14 were strikes.
Mich Neunborn pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. He walked three and struck out one, throwing 27 pitches, of which 11 were strikes, to get three outs.
The IronPigs would go on to lose their second straight to the RailRiders 9-2. Lehigh Valley finished the night with 11 hits, 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base. Otto Kemp went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Casey Lawrence (1-1), and the win went to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher Alexander Cornielle (5-3).
The IronPigs and RailRiders play game four on Thursday at 7:05 pm on the MLB App and Bally Sports Live. Alan Rangel (3-7, 5.44 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Brendan Beck (9-2, 2.75 ERA) for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
