Six-Run Sixth Costs IronPigs, Fall 7-4

A six-run sixth inning and four errors cost the Lehigh Valley IronPigs as they dropped a 7-4 decision to the Durham Bulls on Monday night in the opening game of a four-game set. The IronPigs fall to 5-14 on the season while the Bulls move above .500 with the win and sit at 10-9.

Durham was able to take the lead with six runs in the top of the sixth as Mikie Mahtook knocked a leadoff triple off the centerfield wall and scored when the next batter Joey Butler delivered an RBI double down the right field line. Luke Maile tied it later in the inning with a sac fly to center that scored Butler. IronPigs OF Brian Bogusevic prevented any further damage for the time being with a diving catch in right centerfield to rob Leonardo Reginatto of a hit. However, Taylor Motter followed with a two-run bloop double that landed just in front of the outstretched glove of Danks to open up a 4-2 lead for the Bulls. LHP Adam Loewen (0.0 IP, ER, 4 BB) relieved Pigs starter Adam Morgan and walked the only four batters that he faced. Just two of the six runs in the inning were earned.

Morgan was charged with five of the six runs (one earned) in the inning and was dealt the loss to drop to 0-3 on the season. The University of Alabama product allowed the five runs (one earned) on nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

The Pigs took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the third as Brian Bogusevic (2-5, RBI) laced an RBI single that just stayed fair down the first base line to score Chris McGuiness (2-3, RBI, 2 R) who had walked to start the inning and moved to third on Chase d'Arnaud's single.

Lehigh Valley extended the lead to 2-0 in the fourth as Russ Canzler blooped a double into no mans land in shallow right field, Jordan Danks (3-5) singled to shallow center and Canzler scored on an RBI fielder's choice from McGuiness.

Those would be the only two runs that Durham starter Matt Buschmann (2-1) would allow as the college roommate of former Cy Young winner David Price tossed six innings and gave up the two runs on six hits while walking a pair and fanning six.

The Bulls added a run in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases with nobody out courtesy of two singles and an error against IronPigs LHP Nick Hill (2.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, K) before Motter drove home the seventh run of the night for the visitors with a sac fly.

Continuing his rehab appearance, Domonic Brown (1-4, RBI) got a run back for the Pigs to cut the lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single which plated McGuiness who had singled to start the inning.

LHP Cesar Jimenez (1.0 IP, BB) tossed a scoreless top of the ninth for the IronPigs.

Lehigh Valley would add one more run in the home half of the ninth as Maikel Franco delivered a bloop RBI single to score Bogusevic but that was the closest the Pigs would get at 7-4.

The series continues Tuesday night as RHP Paul Clemens (0-1, 4.91) gets the ball for Lehigh Valley while LHP Scott Diamond (1-0, 1.29) takes the mound for Durham.