Allentown, Pennsylvania (July 30, 2023) – In a tightly played, back-and-forth ballgame, it was Kody Clemens who ahd the final say as his RBI double in the seventh inning paved the way to a 3-2 win for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (52-47, 16-10) over the Syracuse Mets (42-58, 9-17) on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park.
The Mets got on the board first in the top of the second. Jonathan Arauz singled with one out and Carlos Cortes then walked with two outs to put two on. Tomas Nido dumped a single to right to then score Arauz with the first run of the game.
It didn’t take long for the IronPigs to tie the game as Dustin Peterson led off the last of the second with a solo homer, his 12th of the year, knotting the score at 1-1.
In the 3rd, Cal Stevenson followed Peterson’s lead and swatted the first pitch of the frame over the wall in right, his first of the season, putting the IronPigs up 2-1.
The Mets rallied to tie the game in the sixth. With two outs Luke Ritter walked and Cortes then doubled off the wall in right to drive him in.
The big moment for Clemens came in the seventh. Darick Hall walked with one out and advanced to second on a ground out. Clemens then stepped up and laced a double to right, driving in Hall, and giving the IronPigs a 3-2 lead.
Ben Bowden (5-2) fired a scoreless seventh to pick up the win for the IronPigs. Bowden walked one and allowed one hit, striking out two. Andrew Bellatti (S, 4) converted the save in the ninth, working around a walk by striking out one to post a scoreless frame.
Nolan Clenney (0-1) suffered the loss for the Mets, allowing one runs on one hit and one walk, striking out two in one inning of work
Following an off-day on Monday, the IronPigs continue their 12-game homestand as they welcome in the Buffalo Bisons for a six-game series beginning on Tuesday, August 1. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
Follow the IronPigs on Twitter at @IronPigs and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/LHVIronPigs.