Offense Guides IronPigs to Second Straight Win

Lehigh Valley topped Gwinnett 10-9 in game two of their four game series Saturday in what turned out to be a very different game than the low-scoring affair the night prior.

The IronPigs rapped out 13 hits and had three multi-run innings as they got top-to-bottom contributions from their lineup.

Cody Asche had two hits for Lehigh Valley, including the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh that gave the IronPigs the 5-4 lead, which they would not give up.

The top of the order for the IronPigs set the table all night long. Jermaine Mitchell and Pete Orr combined to go 6-for-8 with seven runs and an RBI in the ballgame. Steve Susdorf drove in two runs and had a couple of hits in the game, while Darin Ruf and Josh Fields added a hit and RBI apiece. Fields' hitting streak is now at 11 games.

Cesar Jimenez got the win for the IronPigs after pitching three innings in relief, yielding two runs and striking out six Gwinnett batters. It was his first six strikeout game since July 26, 2011, with Tacoma.

Ethan Martin started the game for the IronPigs on just three days rest, and he threw 100 pitches (just 51 strikes). He finished with five innings pitched and allowed four runs on seven hits. He also walked three and allowed two home runs. Martin's ERA now sits at 5.60 on the season.

Gwinnett hung around the entire game, and almost eliminated a four run deficit to come back in the ninth. Ernesto Mejia's RBI double in the ninth made it 10-7, and the Braves would fight all the way back to make it 10-9 before Matt Pagnozzi grounded out to end the game.

Mejia was the cornerstone of the offense for the Braves, and has been all year. He finished 4-for-5 with three runs, a homer, a double, and three RBI. He now has 15 home runs, which leads the International League, and his 45 RBIs trail only Luis Jimenez for the league lead in that category.

Right-hander Omar Poveda started for Gwinnett, and lasted five innings while allowing four runs. Juan Cedeno suffered the loss for the Braves after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in the seventh inning. He falls to 0-1 this season.

The game lasted three hours and 12 minutes, and was played in front of 9,824 fans at Coca-Cola Park.

The IronPigs could secure a win in the series tomorrow, as they will send B.J. Rosenberg (1-4. 4.10 ERA) to the hill, opposite by Gwinnett's Daniel Rodriguez (3-3, 5.76 ERA). First pitch will be at 1:35 p.m.

Bacon Bits: Josh Fields is hitting .425 (20-for-47) during his current 11-game hitting streak…With the win tonight the IronPigs have set franchise records with an eight game winning streak, eight game home winning streak, and eight game winning streak against Gwinnett.