STAFF REPORTS



Dean Anna‘s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning scored pinch runner Roman Quinn and lifted the IronPigs to a 6-5 victory over the Bisons on Thursday night from Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. The victory was the fourth consecutive for the IL North divisional leaders and their first walk-off win of the season.
After plenty of scoring early, the contest remained tied at five after Rowdy Tellez‘s two-run shot in the top of the fifth inning. The IronPigs took advantage of the speed they had on their bench by inserting Quinn in for catcher Logan Moore after the backstop led off the ninth by drawing a walk off Bisons reliever Carlos Ramirez. The speedster then swiped his IL-leading 12th base of the season before advancing to third on a fly ball that not a lot of runners would be able to take an extra base.
Anna then roped an 0-1 fast ball from Ramirez into deep right field. When Dwight Smith Jr. had to leap just to catch the ball, it took away any chance for the Herd to even contest Quinn crossing the plate.
Lehigh Valley used the long ball early, getting home runs from Mitch Walding and Joey Menesesto build a 3-1 lead. Buffalo tied it at three in the third thanks to an RBI-single from Tellez and Jason Leblebijian‘s sacrifice fly.
The IronPigs retook the lead with some home field advantage. Left fielder Darnell Sweeney lost Moore’s fourth inning popup in the early evening sky, resulting in a two-run double.
Tellez first home run of the year an inning later re-tied the game. Tellez added two more walks later in the game to finish his night 2-3 with four trips on the base paths.
The Bisons had plenty of chances to get their first lead of the night before Lehigh Valley won it in the night. Buffalo went just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Chris Rowley started for Buffalo and allowed five runs (three earned) in six innings of work. Sam Moll provided great relief, striking out four in two scoreless innings.