Ruben Cardenas had a memorable IronPigs debut on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old outfielder drove in six runs with two home runs, a double and a base-loaded walk in Lehigh Valley’s 9-3 win over Buffalo in front of a sell-out crowd of 10,100 at Coca-Cola Park.
Cardenas, acquired by the Phillies on Thursday from the Rays for cash, hit a bloop double in his first at-bat to score Scott Kingery.
The Los Angeles native then hit a three-run homer in the second and a solo shot in the seventh. He then walked with the bases loaded in the eighth. He finished one off the franchise record for RBIs in a game (done three times).
Cardenas hit 11 homers and drove in 28 for Triple-A Durham before being traded.
Tyler Phillips (6-3) struck out a season-high nine in seven innings to get the win. It was the ninth time this season in 12 starts that the right-hander worked at least six innings.
Lehigh Valley (27-33) has won four of the first five games in the series with Buffalo (31-31).
How they scored
Top 1: Steward Berroa homered on the game’s first pitch. It was his sixth homer of the season. Bisons 1-0.
Bottom 1: Scott Kingery singled, stole second, took third on Buffalo catcher Brian Serven’s throwing error and scored on Ruben Cardenas’ bloop double in short right field. Tied 1-1.
Bottom 2: Nick Podkul walked to lead off and scored on Jim Haley’s second homer of the year. Trevor Schwecke singled with one out and took second on Jordan Luplow’s two-out walk. Cardenas then hit a broken-bat fly ball to the wall in left that went off Buffalo outfielder Addison Barger’s glove and over the wall for a three-run homer. It was Cardenas’ first homer with Lehigh Valley, 12th overall this year. The first 11 came with Durham. IronPigs 6-1.
Top 6: Barger singled to lead off and took second one out later on Orelvis Martinez’s single. Both runners moved up on a grounder. Barger scored on a wild pitch. After Brian Serven walked, Martinez scored on a wild pitch. IronPigs 6-3.
Bottom 7: Cardenas homered on the first pitch for his 13th of the year, second of the game. IronPigs 7-3.
Bottom 8: Haley singled, took second one out later on Schwecke’s single. Kingery walked to load the bases. Cardenas walked with two outs to score Haley. Schwecke scored on a fielding error. IronPigs 9-3.
Rehabbing
Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh and IronPigs outfielder Matt Kroon did some running for the IronPigs training staff before Saturday’s game.
Marsh was put on the 10-day IL on June 3 with a right hamstring strain.
Kroon was put on the 7-day IL on June 1 with a leg injury. He said Friday that he has been steadily improving.
Roster moves
OF Cade Fergus was sent to Double-A Reading. He was 0 for 2 with a sacrifice bunt in his only game
INF Buddy Kennedy, acquired Friday from the Tigers for cash, will report Tuesday for the start of a six-game series in Syracuse. The 25-year-old Millville, N.J., native was designated for assignment by Detroit on June 3 after slashing .234/.331/.383 (.714 OPS) with 12 doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI in 141 at-bats for Triple-A Toledo.
Up next
RHP Mick Abel (1-5, 6.26) vs. Buffalo RHP Andrew Bash (1-0, 4.40) in a 1:35 p.m. start at Coca-Cola Park in the series finale. Abel last pitched May 31 at Columbus, allowing three runs on five hits (two home runs) and four walks in four innings.
Morning 첥Ƶ reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com
