IronPigs and Bisons Split Doubleheader

ALLENTOWN, PA - After dropping the first game of Monday's doubleheader 5-2, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs took the nightcap in walkoff fashion to defeat the Buffalo Bisons 3-2 at Coca-Cola Park.

Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh in game two, Michael Martinez singled to lead off the frame. After Leandro Castro laid down a sacrifice bunt, Cameron Rupp reached on a throwing error, advancing Martinez to third. Derrick Mitchell then tied the contest, ripping a single to left field to score Martinez and advance pinch runner Miguel Abreu to second. After a pop out, Freddy Galvis then won the contest, lining a 3-1 pitch down the right field line to score Abreu and propel the IronPigs to a 3-2 victory.

After Steve Susdorf had put the IronPigs (70-67) ahead with an RBI single in the third, the Herd took the lead in the top of the sixth behind a two-run dinger from Blake Gailen, his first career Triple-A home run.

Mauricio Robles (1-2) earned his first win of the campaign, tossing a scoreless seventh inning. Mike Nesseth, making just his second career Triple-A appearance, made the start for Lehigh Valley, allowing one hit over four innings while tossing just 33 pitches. Reliever Mickey Storey (0-2) suffered the loss for the Herd, surrendering two unearned runs in the seventh on three hits.

Galvis led the offense in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Susdorf also added a pair of hits.

In game one the Herd (70-67) took down the 'Pigs by a 5-2 tally after jumping out to a 4-0 lead. In the third Buffalo took their first lead when Mike McCoy singled to left field, scoring Ryan Langerhans.

In the fifth the visitors struck again, starting when Langerhans doubled to plate Ricardo Nanita from second base. After a sacrifice fly scored Luis Jimenez, McCoy again ripped a single to left field to score Langerhans, extending the lead to 4-0.

The IronPigs cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame however. Martinez led off the frame with a solo homer over the right field wall, his third dinger of the season, to put the home side on the board. After Castro followed with a single, Steve Lerud ripped a double in to the left field corner to score Castro all the way from first.

The two-run contest would be the closest Lehigh Valley would get however, as the Bisons scored their final run in the sixth on a wild pitch to close the scoring at 5-2.

Reliever John Stilson (5-2) picked up the victory with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while Jeremy Jeffress earned the save, allowing only a single in the ninth. Left-hander Tom Cochran (3-8) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3, while Jay Johnson threw 1 2/3 hitless frames out of the bullpen.

Offensively Martinez led the way with two hits and an RBI, while Hernandez also tallied a pair of hits and walked.

The IronPigs close the season-series against the Bisons Tuesday when they send RHP Dave Buchanan (3-1, 1.71) to the hill against Buffalo LHP Ricky Romero (4-7, 5.89). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park.