Pigs fall on pinch-hit home run

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The Lehigh Valley IronPigs fell 5-3 Wednesday at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

A walk-off, pinch-hit, two-run home run from Zack Zehner got the job done for the hosts in the bottom of the ninth. The RailRiders have now earned three walk-off winners against Lehigh Valley in the last five games at PNC Field. The loss evens the three-game series at one game apiece, and sets up a rubber-match tomorrow. 

Even with the loss, Lehigh Valley still maintains a 4.5-game lead atop the IL North Division

Ben Lively made quick work of the RailRiders for much of the night, allowing only two hits through 6.2 innings and striking out seven. The RailRiders finally got to Lively in the seventh inning, when the right-hander walked the first two batters and allowed a three-run home run to Tyler Austin, surrendering what was a 2-0 lead. After the Pigs tied the game at three in the ninth inning, Zac Curtis (2-2) came on to try and send the game into extras, but after a walk Zehner delivered his sixth home run of the season to right field to end the game.

Josh Rogers worked very quickly, as well, to aid the RailRiders, but he hit his speedbump in the fourth inning when Joey Meneses launched his 13th home run of the year to right field, and Trevor Plouffe followed with his seventh home run of the year over the left field wall. It was the fifth set of back-to-back home runs for the Pigs in 2018. 

Giovanny Gallegos came on in relief for the RailRiders, and was one out away from picking up the win before allowing a game-tying double by Danny Ortiz in the ninth. 

The Pigs were led by Joey Meneses, who went 2-for-4 with his home run. Dean Anna went 1-for-3 on the evening with a single and a walk.

Lehigh Valley will try to win the series with the RailRiders tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Cole Irvin will take the mound for the rubber match in pursuit of his 9th win in 2018. 

The Pigs return home next Monday against the same RailRiders. The four-game series will feature Little League Night, two youth giveaways and #LVWantsLeBron Night presented by Yuengling on June 28. See what the Pigs have in store for the homestand here. 

The 2018 Season is the IronPigs' 11th season at Coca-Cola Park and 11th as the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Fans can get closer to the team than ever before with a Bacon, USA membership -- a year-round IronPigs experience pass featuring numerous amenities such as savings on parking at games and at the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Coca-Cola Park, on-field VIP access to watch batting practice, access to the annual holiday party, and more. For more information, click here or call (610) 841-PIGS (7447).

The 2018 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.