Pigs Fall to Clippers, 6-2

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs fell to the Columbus Clippers by a score of 6-2 on Monday night at Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs drop to 9-23 on the year, while Columbus has now won seven in a row and improves to 18-13.

Audy Ciriaco's go-ahead three-run blast in the top of eighth just stayed in fair territory and gave Columbus a 5-2 lead that they wouldn't relinquish. RHP Jason Berken (2-2) was dealt the loss for the Pigs as he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits in 1.0 IP. The Clippers added a fourth run in the inning when a throwing error charged to Tyler Henson allowed Ryan Rohlinger to score and open up a 6-2 advantage for the visitors.

Ciriaco is now hitting .593 (16-27)-4-17 over seven games in his career at Coca-Cola Park.

Maikel Franco (2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R) started the scoring with a two-run shot in the home half of the fourth to give the IronPigs a 2-0 lead. It was the fourth home run of the season for Franco and allowed him to extend his hitting streak to seven games.

Columbus tied it with a pair of runs in the sixth as Tyler Holt and Jesus Aguilar started the inning with a single and a double before Holt scored on Jerry Sands' RBI groundout. With two outs in the inning and Aguilar at third, Ciriaco delivered an RBI triple that tied things at two apiece.

Lehigh Valley LHP Joely Rodriguez (n/d) turned in his best outing of the season as he allowed two runs on seven hits to go along with three strikeouts over seven innings of work. It was also the longest outing of the season for the southpaw and the first start in which he did not walk a batter.

Rodriguez's counterpart, LHP Michael Roth (3-1) tossed eight innings and allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts to earn his third win of the season.

The IronPigs were held to just five hits in the game, two of which were delivered by Franco. Brian Bogusevic, Domonic Brown and Chase d'Arnaud had the other hits for manager Dave Brundage's squad.

RHP Colton Murray (1.0 IP, K) threw a scoreless inning out of the bullpen for the Pigs.

The series continues Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. as RHP David Buchanan (1-0, 3.00) will be on the bump for the Pigs against Clippers RHP Jordan Cooper (1-1, 1.98).