Buddy Kennedy hit a two-run home run and Gabriel Rincones broke out of a 9-for-44 funk with three hits to lead the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to a 5-2 victory Saturday night in front of their third capacity sellout of the year at Coca-Cola Park.
Mick Abel (5-2) pitched seven innings for the second time in his last four starts. He allowed only one earned run for the fourth consecutive start. The right-hander allowed three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts on 96 pitches (61 strikes). The Phillies’ No. 3 prospect threw 17 of 26 first-pitch strikes.
International League leaders
There are a lot of reasons why the IronPigs lead the International League standings after 38 games. Here’s a look at what has gone well so far for Lehigh Valley in 2025:
Offense (entering Saturday night’s game)
— Leads the 20-team league in batting average (.276), on-base percentage (.373), runs (223) and walks (176); second in extra-base hits (116); third in stolen bases (68) and slugging percentage (.373);
— Otto Kemp is seventh in batting average (.331), tied for first in home runs (10), first in RBIs (36), hits (47), extra-base hits (25), runs (31) and total bases (93), second in doubles (14), tied for eighth in on-base percentage (.429) third in slugging (.655) and OPS (1.084);
— Justin Crawford is third in hits (44);
— Buddy Kennedy is fifth in on-base percentage (.431).
Pitching
— Tied for first in saves (11), has the fewest wild pitches (10); fifth in ERA (3.87) sixth in WHIP (1.22);
— The starters have a 3.26 ERA.
Blemishes
— Lehigh Valley is tied for 15th in fielding percentage at .975 with 32 errors;
— Relievers have allowed 22 earned runs in their last 23 1/3 innings (8.49 ERA) spanning seven games.
How they scored
Bottom 4: Otto Kemp singled to lead off, stole second and scored on Buddy Kennedy’s home run to left, his second of the season. IronPigs 2-0.
Top 6: Roman Anthony singled to start, took second on a groundout and scored on Blake Sabol’s two-out double down the right-field line. IronPigs 2-1.
Bottom 6: Gabriel Rincones doubled with two outs. Payton Henry and Oscar Mercado walked to load the bases. Erick Brito walked to score Rincones. Rodolfo Castro walked to force home Henry. IronPigs 4-1.
Bottom 7: Justin Crawford walked, took second when Kemp walked. After a double-play grounder, Crawford scored when Rincones hit a fly ball down the left-field line that was overrun for an RBI double. IronPigs 5-1.
Top 8: Karson Simas singled to lead off, took second on Marcelo Mayer’s one-out walk, third on a fielder’s choice and scored on Sabol’s infield dribbler. IronPigs 5-2.
Up next
RHP Nabil Crismatt (3-1, 2.31 ERA) faces Worcester RHP Jos Winckowski (0-1, 2.65) in a 1:35 p.m. start on Mother’s Day. Crismatt has allowed only four earned runs in his last five starts.
Looking ahead
After Monday’s off day, Lehigh Valley travels to Syracuse for six games starting at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday. The IronPigs return home for a six-game series against the Buffalo Bisons on May 20-25.
Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
Source: Berkshire mont