Chiefs escape with 5-4 victory

Follow @IronPigs
Trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth Monday, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs got the tying run to third base but could not cash in, falling to the Syracuse Chiefs 5-4 in Game 1 at Coca-Cola Park

Starters Tom Eshelman and Tommy Milone held the offenses at bay the first time through the order. In the top of the fourth inning, the Chiefs plated three runs off of Eshelman to take a 3-0 lead. Back-to-back doubles by Jacob Wilson and Bengie González powered the Chiefs ahead.
The Pigs did get a baserunner in the bottom of the fourth, their first against Milone, but were held off the board. Still down by three in the bottom of the fifth, Lehigh Valley was finally able to push a run across. After back-to back-hits by Danny Ortiz and Joey Meneses, Heiker Meneses drove a one-out single to up the middle to cut the Syracuse lead to 3-1.
Milone was lifted after six innings and the Pigs went to work on the Syracuse bullpen in the seventh. Danny Ortiz belted a lead-off home run to left field (his team-leading fourth) against reliever Phillips Valdez to cut the Chiefs' lead to one. Joey Meneses followed with a double and was brought home to tie the game on a pinch-hit single by Mitch Walding.
The Chiefs struck right back in the top off the eighth against the reliever Tom Windle (0-1). Already with a pair of RBIs and doubles, Jacob Wilson broke the eighth-inning tie with a solo home run to left field. A solo home run in the top of the ninth Hunter Jones gave the Chiefs some much needed insurance.
Looking for their first walk-off win of the season and trailing by two, the Pigs needed some ninth inning magic. Lehigh Valley got the first two men aboard and brought the tying run to the plate.
With runners on the corners and two outs, Roman Quinn doubled down the third base line to cut the deficit to one, putting the tying run on third and winning run on second. However they would be stranded as Chiefs closer David Goforth was able to induce a game-ending groundout.
With his ninth inning double, Roman Quinn extended his hitting streak to seven games.
The Pigs and Chiefs resume their three-game set tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Jake Waguespack will make the start for the Pigs against Austin Voth. It is Dance Night at Coca-Cola Park and 3,000 fans 18 and older will receive a Rhys Hoskins bobblehead presented by Burger King.
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.