IronPigs Drop Finale and Series to Mud Hens

By Alec Scercy

May 25, 2014

ALLENTOWN, PA - In a game dominated the starting pitchers early on, it was two homeruns that made the difference in the game, with Toledo launching two longballs and taking the Sunday finale 4-0.

LHP Greg Smith got the start for the IronPigs and dazzled for six innings, but two singles and a three-run homerun in the seventh proved costly for the veteran left-hander. The loss is only the second of Smith's career in games at Coca-Cola Park, and second overall in 2014. The LSU product also allowed a double in that seventh inning, making for a four hit frame after allowing only two in the previous six innings.

LHP Jeremy Horst would take over for Smith to start the eighth inning, and allowed a homerun to the first batter he faced, extending the Mud Hens lead to 4-0, where it would stay. After the solo shot, Horst did not allow another run, while striking out two in the inning. RHP Ethan Martin finished the pitching duties for Manager Dave Brundage, hurling a scoreless, hitless ninth inning while striking out two Mud Hens.

The Lehigh Valley offense managed only three hits in the Sunday matinee, with the shutout keeping the IronPigs run total at just eight for the four-game series. The IronPigs batted just .248 as a team in the series - compared to .293 for TOL - and tallied almost as many strikeouts (29) as hits (33) in the series.

OF Leandro Castro contributed one of the three Lehigh Valley hits on Sunday, extending his hitting streak to seven games. The streak is now the current team-high with 2B Ronny Cedeño failing to get a hit on Sunday, ending his 11-game streak. OF Steve Susdorf added the other two hits, making four hits in three games started in the series for the Fresno State University product.

With the loss on Sunday, the Pigs lost their first series out of the last six, and second of their last nine after going winless in their first four sets. The series loss to the Hens was the first in the last seven sets between the two teams, with the Pigs last loss coming in June of 2010.

The IronPigs will hit the road for a nine-game, eight-day road trip, with five games against the Norfolk Tides (doubleheader on Tuesday to make up the 4/24 rain out) and four against the Durham Bulls. RHP Barry Enright will get the start for the Pigs in the Memorial Day Matinee, with a special 12:05 start on Monday.