Jordan Luplow Homers for a Third Straight Game but Coquís Rally Falls Just Shy

Allentown, Pennsylvania (Sunday, April 14) – Facing a 10-run deficit, the Lehigh Valley Coquis (6-6) nearly stormed all the way back but came up just short in a 12-9 loss to the Durham Bulls (6-9) on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park.

To kick off the home half of the first inning, Matt Kroon walked and Jordan Luplow singled him to third. Weston Wilson then plated Kroon with a sacrifice fly.

Durham jumped ahead thanks to a Dominic Smith two-run homer in the fourth and then stretched their lead to 4-1 in the fourth with a Junior Caminero two-run double. Ronny Simon match Caminero with a two-run double of his own in the fifth pushing Durham ahead 6-1.

Scott Kingery walloped a solo homer, his third of the season, in the last of the fifth to get the Coquís a run back.

The Bulls busted the game open in the seventh. With runners at second and third and one out, Gionti Turner legged out an infield single to drive in a run before Tristan Peters singled home another. Caminero continued his stellar game belting a three-run homer, his second of the season, to make it 12-2 Durham.

Simon Muzziotti blasted a three-run homer of his own, his first of the year, for the IronPigs in the last of the seventh to make it 12-5.

Nick Podkul singled home a run in the eighth with a second run scoring on the play thanks to an error. Podkul then scored later in the inning on a Kingery groundout to shrink the deficit for Lehigh Valley down to 12-8.

Luplow homered for a third-straight game to open the ninth and trim the score to 12-9. Wilson legged out an infield single to move the tying run to the on-deck single, but the Coquís would get no closer as their comeback was extinguished.

Joe Rock (1-0) garnered the win for the Bulls, working five innings and allowing two runs on three hits and a walk, striking out three.

Kolby Allard (0-2) absorbed the loss for Lehigh Valley, allowing six runs in four-plus innings on eight hits and four walks, striking out four.

Following an off-day on Monday, Lehigh Valley begins a six-game set on the road against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m. from PNC Field. Starters for both teams have yet to be announced.

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The IronPigs are presented by Capital Blue Cross.

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