Brandon Marsh 1 for 4 as IronPigs win fifth consecutive game

Brandon Marsh singled in a run, stole a base and scored as part of a five-run first inning that propelled the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to their fifth consecutive win, 11-3 on Friday night against the visiting Columbus Clippers.

The Phillies’ rehabbing outfielder also struck out three times before exiting after seven innings of second game with the IronPigs.

Otto Kemp had a single and three doubles, including a three-run shot in the sixth for Lehigh Valley (18-7), which is off to its best start in franchise history. He leads the International League with 17 extra-base hits. Erick Brito had three singles and a walk. Oscar Mercado had two hits, including his second home run of the year, and two RBIs.

Kyle Tyler allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks in six innings for the IronPigs, who are 10-3 this season at home.

How they scored

Bottom 1: Justin Crawford doubled, took third on Otto Kemp’s bloop single and scored on Brandon Marsh’s single. Marsh stole second. Garrett Stubbs then singled in Kemp. Oscar Mercado singled in Marsh. Erick Brito singled in Stubbs. Rodolfo Castro’s sacrifice fly scored Mercado. IronPigs 5-0.

Top 4: Johnathan Rodriguez walked to lead off and took third on Petey Halpin’s one-out double. Rodriguez scored on Yordys Valdes’ grounder. Halpin scored when pitcher Kyle Tyler dropped the flip from first baseman Buddy Kennedy. IronPigs 5-2.

Bottom 6: Mercado homered to lead off. Brito walked and stole second. Rafael Lantigua walked with one out. Crawford reached on an infield single to load the bases. Kemp’s double down the left-field line scored all three runners. IronPigs 9-2.

Top 7: Justin Boyd walked and Christian Cairo walked one out later. Both moved up on a wild pitch before Will Brennan’s groundout scored Boyd. IronPigs 9-3.

Bottom 8: Kemp doubled and scored on Cade Fergus’ second home run in the last two nights. IronPigs 11-3.

Up next

RHP Alan Rangel (2-0, 3.57 ERA) faces Columbus LHP Kolby Allard (0-0, 4.86) in a 6:35 p.m. start from Coca-Cola Park. Allard split time last season between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia.

Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com

Source: Berkshire mont