Pitching Leads IronPigs to Fifth Straight Win
ALLENTOWN, PA - Three Lehigh Valley IronPigs pitchers combined to hold the Norfolk Tides to just four hits, and the IronPigs scored two runs in the eighth inning en route to a 4-2 win Saturday night at Coca-Cola Park.
With Josh Fields on first base and two outs in the eighth, the designated hitter stole second base without a throw. Leandro Castro then hit a slow grounder to shortstop Brandon Wood, but Fields held up in the base path, blocking Wood's view. After Wood fielded the ball, he threw errantly to first base, allowing Fields to score all the way from second and break a 2-2 deadlock. Castro later stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to give the IronPigs a 4-2 advantage, before J.C. Ramirez shut the door in the ninth as the 'Pigs won their fifth straight game.
The combination of Tom Cochran, Joe Savery and Ramirez was too much for Norfolk (31-18), who lost for the third consecutive game for just the second time this season. Cochran carried a no-hitter in to the sixth inning before it was broken up on a bloop single to left field, the same inning Norfolk scored their only two runs. Cochran was lifted after six innings, allowing just two runs on two hits while striking out six. Savery pitched 1 2/3 innings of one-hit relief, while Ramirez (1-1) earned the win, picking up the last out of the eighth before firing a scoreless ninth.
Lehigh Valley (23-25), which won for the sixth time in its last seven games, scored the game's first run in the fourth, when Castro singled to center to score Cody Overbeck, who doubled to lead off the frame. In the fifth, the IronPigs tacked on another run when Pete Orr doubled, moved to third on Cesar Hernandez' bunt single, and scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 advantage.
Jake Arrieta (2-2) suffered the loss for Norfolk, allowing two runs (one earned) in the eighth inning. Zach Britton went the first seven frames for the visitors, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits in seven innings while striking out eight.
Castro was the only player on either side to register a multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while also stealing his 12th base. In all, the IronPigs swiped four bags in the game, with half those runners eventually scoring.
The series concludes tomorrow afternoon when RHP Zach Miner (2-3, 5.87) makes the start for Lehigh Valley against Norfolk's LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (0-0, 6.75). First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. from Coca-Cola Park.
Bacon Bits: The five-game winning streak is Lehigh Valley's first since May of 2012… The IronPigs have stolen 11 bases in the series… The win clinched a series win for the 'Pigs, who have now won back-to-back series for the second time this year.