IronPigs Take Series in Extra Inning Affair
ALLENTOWN, P.A. - Despite not recording a hit in the 11th inning, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs scored a 5-4 walk-off win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park, winning the four-game series.
After Cesar Jimenez escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 11th, the IronPigs proceeded to win their third game of the series. Cameron Rupp led off with a walk before being replaced by pinch-runner Miguel Abreu. Darin Ruf then worked himself a walk and Cody Asche was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs for Cody Overbeck. The first baseman then flew out to center field, but the ball was hit plenty deep enough to score Abreu and lift the IronPigs to a 5-4 win.
After falling behind 3-0 after just one inning, Lehigh Valley (36-33) chipped away at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lead. The home side plated a pair of unearned runs in the fourth frame, and then tied the contest at 3-3 in the seventh inning on Asche's eighth homer of the season, a solo shot over the right-center field wall.
In the eighth frame the 'Pigs took a lead when Jermaine Mitchell doubled and later scored on Ruf's sacrifice fly, but the RailRiders (30-37) countered in the ninth inning as Cody Grice tripled and scored on Zoilo Almonte's single to right field.
After surrendering the three first inning runs, IronPigs starter Tom Cochran settled down to pitch four scoreless frames. Zach Miner then relieved the southpaw in the sixth and pitched in to the ninth, but was chased after Grice's triple. Jimenez (3-1) pitched the top of the 11th, loading the bases on two hits and a walk, but worked out unscathed for the win. Right-hander Dellin Betances (4-4) absorbed the loss for the RailRiders, issuing two walks, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly in his lone inning of work.
Steve Susdorf went 2-for-4, finishing as the only IronPig with a multi-hit game, while Asche's homer extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Lehigh Valley hits the road for an eight-game trip through Ohio, starting Monday against the Toledo Mud Hens. RHP Tyler Cloyd (1-4, 6.57) makes the start for the 'Pigs opposite the Hens' LHP Casey Crosby (2-5, 4.76). First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Fifth Third Field.
Bacon Bits: The walk-off win was the IronPigs fifth of the season… A capacity crowd of 10,100 was on hand for the third straight game… Lehigh Valley has now won their past four series, each by a tally of three games to one…The 'Pigs have not lost consecutive games in June, and have not lost consecutive games at home since May 8-9 against Louisville.