IronPigs Earn Series Split with Doubleheader Sweep
ALLENTOWN, PA - The Lehigh Valley IronPigs swept a doubleheader against the Durham Bulls with a pair of one-run victories Friday night at Coca-Cola Park, winning game one 6-5 before taking the nightcap 2-1.
In game one the IronPigs (43-38) jumped out to an early lead before needing a pair of late runs to win the game 6-5. In the first inning, Lehigh Valley jumped out to a 4-0 lead, as Cody Asche doubled home Jermaine Mitchell, and then Darin Ruf knocked an RBI single to right. That brought up Cody Overbeck with a runner aboard, and he launched his 100th career homer to left-center field for a 4-0 lead.
However, Durham (50-32) would counter with a four-spot of its own behind a bases loaded hit-by-pitch, bases loaded walk and two-run single by Mike Fontenot for a 4-4 ballgame.
In the third the Bulls then took their first lead of the game when Vince Belnome and Shelley Duncan cracked back-to-back doubles to grab a 5-4 advantage.
The 'Pigs came back to life in the fourth though, as Mitchell singled to lead off the frame and later tied the game on Ruf's sacrifice fly to center field. Then in the home side scored what would hold up as the winning run when Derrick Mitchell flew out to center field, scoring Josh Fields who doubled to begin the frame.
Mike MacDougal (1-1) earned the win in his first appearance with Lehigh Valley, throwing two innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits and walking two. Mauricio Robles picked up his second save of the year, tossing a perfect seventh inning. Carlos Zambrano started for the IronPigs, but left after just two innings with right shoulder tightness. Steve Geltz (3-3) suffered the loss for Durham, allowing a run on one hit and one walk in two innings of work.
In game two the IronPigs again scored first, as Asche was hit by a pitch with two outs, stole second base and scored on Ruf's double to center for a 1-0 lead.
That score would hold until the sixth inning when Cesar Hernandez reached on an error, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error on the catcher. That set up Overbeck to crank a line drive off the wall in left-center field for an RBI double and a 2-0 'Pigs lead.
In the top of the seventh frame Durham, loading the bases with two outs. Luis Garcia fired a wild pitch, allowing Leslie Anderson to score from third and advance both baserunners, but the right-hander struck out Tim Beckham for the final out, giving the IronPigs a 2-1 victory.
Zach Miner (5-5) picked up the win with three innings of relief, allowing just three hits while striking out two. His appearance came on the heels of the strong spot-start from Greg Smith, who surrendered just two hits in three innings while Garcia earned the save in his second appearance with Lehigh Valley. Cory Wade (2-1) took the loss, allowing one run on one hit in three innings.
Overbeck paced the offense in game two, finishing 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI.
The IronPigs open a four-game set with the Toledo Mud Hens tomorrow night at Coca-Cola Park, as RHP Tyler Cloyd (1-6, 7.69) takes the ball for Lehigh Valley against Toledo RHP Shawn Hill (1-10, 5.69). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Bacon Bits: Overbeck's homer in game one was his team-leading 14th… Lehigh Valley still has not lost a series in June, earning a split with the doubleheader sweep… It was the first doubleheader the IronPigs have swept this season… 'Pigs manager Dave Brundage was ejected in the 1st inning of game two for arguing a balk.