Smith Twirls Gem in Nightcap as IronPigs Split Doubleheader
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Lehigh Valley IronPigs split a doubleheader with the Buffalo Bisons Friday evening at Coca-Cola Field in a pair of seven-inning contests, dropping the first game 4-3 before winning the nightcap 4-0.
In game two the IronPigs (30-31) got a fantastic start from Greg Smith (2-1), who tossed 5 1/3 scoreless frames and allowed just three hits. Justin Friend recorded both outs to end the sixth inning before Jake Diekman tossed a perfect seventh to preserve the win.
Lehigh Valley got on the board in the fourth frame as Cody Asche led off with a single and then Darin Ruf was hit by a pitch. Two batters later Steve Susdorf hit a grounder to first base, but pitcher Justin Germano missed the throw as he was covering first base, allowing Asche to score all the way from first to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
That score held until the seventh, when the 'Pigs offense added three more runs of insurance. Steven Lerud singled to center field, scoring Pete Orr who singled and advanced to third on an error. Later in the frame Leandro Castro singled home a pair of runs for a 4-0 advantage, which was more than enough for Diekman in the ninth.
Justin Germano (4-5) took the loss for Buffalo (32-28), going six innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits.
Mitchell had the big day offensively with a 3-for-4 performance, collecting his 10th double of the season, while Asche and Lerud each had two-hit games.
In game one a three-run rally in the sixth wasn't enough for the IronPigs, as they Bisons took their first game of the series by a 4-3 tally.
Trailing 2-0 after five innings, Michael Martinez got things started in the sixth for Lehigh Valley with a single to left field before Asche doubled to left. Ruf then kept the carousel going with a single to left field, scoring Martinez and advancing Asche to third. Cody Overbeck's sacrifice fly to right scored Asche to tie the game before Susdorf cracked a ground-rule double to right field, scoring Ruf to put the IronPigs in front 3-2.
The lead proved to be short-lived however, as Luis Jimenez led off the bottom of the sixth with his 13th dinger of the season to tie the ballgame back up, before Mike McCoy singled home Moises Sierra for what proved to be the winning run.
John Stilson (1-0) picked up the win in relief of Ricky Romero, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Ethan Martin (5-3) suffered the loss, his first since April 25, tossing a complete game while allowing four runs on six hits and five walks.
The 'Pigs won the four-game series 3-1 after getting swept by the Bisons in Allentown in mid-April and have now won six of their last eight contests, and 12 of their last 18 dating back to May 20.
The IronPigs return home tomorrow for the first game of a four-game set against the Charlotte Knights. RHP B.J. Rosenberg (1-5, 5.17) is scheduled to go for Lehigh Valley opposite RHP Zach Stewart (3-7, 5.22) for Charlotte. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. from Coca-Cola Park.
Bacon Bits: Josh Fields saw his 14-game hitting streak come to a close with 0-for-2 performance in game one… Martin, yesterday's scheduled starter before the game was rained out, celebrated his 24th birthday yesterday… Game two's shutout marked the third time the IronPigs have blanked an opponent in their last eight games.