IronPigs even series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre thanks to shutout win

Johan Rojas had an RBI double and Rafael Lantigua hit a two-run home run as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs evened the series with rival Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a 3-0 victory Saturday night in front of a sell-out crowd at Coca-Cola Park.

The IronPigs have won three of the six games in the seven-game series to even their second-half record at 19-19, 65-47 overall.

The RailRiders (28-10) stay one game behind the first-place Syracuse Mets in the second-half standings.

Adonis Medina and four relievers combined to shut out Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for just the fourth time all season. Nolan Hoffman got the last six outs for his third save.

Kenta Maeda allowed one unearned run on five hits in six innings of his Scranton/Wilkes-Barre debut. He struck out seven, walked none and threw 58 of 91 pitches for strikes. He was signed by the Yankees on Aug. 4, after being released by the Tigers.

Maeda was 68-56 in nine major league seasons with a 4.20 ERA in 220 appearances. The right-hander had a 7.88 ERA in seven games this season with the Tigers.

How they scored

Bottom 6: Justin Crawford singled, took second on a passed ball and scored Johan Rojas’ double to left-center field. IronPigs 1-0.

Bottom 7: Brewer Hicklen reached on the RailRiders’ third error the game, stole second and scored on Rafael Lantigua’s fifth home run of the year. IronPigs 3-0.

Up next

RHP Andrew Painter (3-4, 4.88 ERA) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RHP Brendan Beck (4-1, 4.35) in a 1:35 p.m. start from Coca-Cola Park in the seven-game series finale. Painter allowed a combined nine earned runs on 12 hits and five walks in two previous starts against the RailRiders with 11 strikeouts.

Looking ahead

Lehigh Valley heads to Buffalo after Monday’s off day for a six-game series starting at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday. The Bisons are in last place in the International League in the second-half standings.

The IronPigs return home for six games beginning Aug. 19, against Durham, which is sixth in the second-half standings.

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com

Source: Berkshire mont