Lehigh Valley IronPigs

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs fell to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders by a score of 8–5 at PNC Field, despite a strong early offensive showing. Lehigh Valley opened the game with three consecutive hits: Johan Rojas and top Phillies prospect Aidan Miller singled, and Gabriel Rincones Jr. drove in Rojas with a base hit to right-center. In the fourth inning, Oscar Mercado drew a walk and Brewer Hicklen followed with a two-run home run to left field. Payton Henry and Luis Verdugo added walks, and Rodolfo Castro doubled home Henry to give the IronPigs a 4–0 lead. Rojas contributed an RBI groundout in the sixth to cut the deficit to one, but the IronPigs were unable to mount a comeback. The IronPigs managed eight hits but left nine runners on base and were just 2-for-9 (.222) with runners in scoring position.

Starter Mitch Neunborn struggled, allowing five runs on five hits over four innings. He was tagged with the loss, dropping to 0–4 on the season. The bullpen was unable to hold the lead, surrendering three more runs across the final five innings.

Defensively, an error in the seventh inning contributed to the RailRiders’ momentum shift.

Any legitimate chance that the IronPigs had of a playoff spot disappeared with the loss. The ‘Pigs are now 6.5 games behind Scranton for the best record in the IL in the second half, which is the criteria needed for a playoff spot against Jacksonville, the first half champions. After wrapping the series with the RailRiders on Sunday, Lehigh Valley returns home for a final homestand next week against Syracuse, who are still alive in the playoff hunt.

Reading Fightin Phils

The Reading Fightin Phils lost 6–2 to the Somerset Patriots at FirstEnergy Stadium in the penultimate game of their season. After a scoreless first inning, Reading reliever Gabriel Barbosa allowed back-to-back home runs to Tyler Hardman and Garrett Martin in the second, giving Somerset a 2–0 lead. Barbosa settled in afterward, allowing just one additional run over 4.2 innings, with three strikeouts and five hits. He took the loss, falling to 0–2.

Reading responded with runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Caleb Ricketts and Alex Binelas opened the fourth with singles, and Nick Dunn grounded out to third to score Ricketts. In the fifth, Robert Moore led off with a double and scored on a single from Aroon Escobar to tie the game at 2–2. However, Somerset regained the lead in the seventh and added two more runs in the eighth off relievers Saul Teran and Alex McFarlane.

Reading’s offense was limited to six hits, with Moore and Escobar providing the only extra-base and RBI production. The team was unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities late in the game and the pitching depth was tested following a 13-inning contest the night before, and the bullpen couldn’t contain Somerset’s late surge.

Home runs on September 13 (season total in parenthesis):

  • Lehigh Valley – Brewer Hicklen (12)
  • Reading – none