IronPigs Earn Split, Edge PawSox 5-4

PAWTUCKET, RI - The IronPigs entered Sunday's matchup after losing two consecutive games, but left McCoy stadium with a win -- earning a series split with the reigning International League North Division Champions -- behind the powerful bat of C Cameron Rupp.

Rupp stepped to the plate with one out in the top of the sixth inning and the go-ahead run on third base in the form of Reid Brignac - Brignac had just tripled off relief pitcher LHP Tommy Layne - needing only a sacrifice fly or a ground ball to the right side to give Lehigh Valley the lead. The 250-pund slugger had bigger plans than that, launching his third homerun in just his third game of this early season, giving the Ironpigs the lead for good.

The PawSox jumped out to an early lead in this one, looking as if this game would be more of the same from the past two contests. The host team tallied three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning of LHV starting pitcher RHP Jonathan Pettibone. The 6-6 righty also threw two wild pitches in the frame over a span of three batters.

The tall Californian would settle down after the second inning, going on to collect nine more outs without allowing another hit for a final stat line of three earned runs on four hits in five innings pitched and two strikeouts. He allowed one walk in the fourth but immediately produced a groundball for a double play to preserve his second of three-consecutive three-up-three-down inning.  

Dave Brundage's offense was quick to respond to the three, second-inning scores by the PawSox, their next time to the plate Lehigh Valley put together a three-run inning of their own. OF Clete Thomas drove in the first pair of IronPigs runs when he hit his fourth double in as many games, scoring fellow outfielders Leandro Castro and Tyler Henson. Thomas would later move to third on a wild pitch by starter RHP Jeremy Kehrt before scoring on an RBI groundout by SS Ronny Cedeno.

With the Pigs leading 5-3 entering the home-half of the sixth inning, Ray Burris called on four pitchers to throw the final four innings, combining to allow just one run in order to hold on to a 5-4 victory. RHP Hector Neris and RHP Kyle Simon each hurled a scoreless inning, with LHP Jeremy Horst allowing one run on two hits in the seventh, and all three pitchers earning their first hold of the season. RHP Luis Garcia would then pitch a scoreless ninth to earn a save in the first save opportunity of the Pigs' season.

With a 2-2 series split in the bag, the IronPigs will head home to Coca-Cola Park for their first home stand of the season. All seven games of the home stand will come against division foes, starting with a three-game set with Buffalo followed by four games over the weekend against Rochester. LHP Greg Smith will get the call in the Pigs home opener on Monday, first pitch scheduled at a special time of 5:05; tickets are still available.