Franco's Walk-Off Single Helps Pigs Sink Clippers, 6-5

By Joe Fitzhenry (Photo Credit: Digital Photographic Imaging)

May 12, 2015

Maikel Franco delivered a walk-off two-run single with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (10-23) a 6-5 win over the Columbus Clippers (18-14) on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park. The Pigs had loaded the bases courtesy of three walks (one IBB) in the inning.

RHP Austin Adams (0.1 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB) was tagged with the loss for the Clippers and drops to 1-2 on the season.

LHP Cesar Jimenez (1.0 IP, H, 2 BB, K) earned the win for the IronPigs and is now 1-2 on the season.

Jerry Sands gave the Clippers an early 2-0 lead with a two-run shot in the top of the first, his third home run of the season.

The Pigs got the first two batters on in the home half of the first, but were unable to score as Columbus RHP Jordan Cooper (n/d, 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB) worked his way out of the jam.

Lehigh Valley had the leadoff man on in three of the first four innings against Cooper, but were unable to push across a run until the fifth.

In the top of the fourth, Sands reached with a one-out single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Audy Ciriaco's RBI single to give the Clippers a 3-0 advantage.

The IronPigs broke through against Cooper for four runs in the fifth as Brian Bogusevic (2-4, R, BB) and Cody Asche (2-2, 3 BB, R) started the inning with back-to-back singles before Franco (2-4, 3 RBI) plated Bogusevic with a sac fly to cut the lead to 3-1. After a Canzler single, Domonic Brown (2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R) tied it at three with a two-run triple down the right field line. Jordan Danks followed with an RBI single to give Lehigh Valley a 4-3 lead.

Columbus would take a 5-4 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh against IronPigs starter David Buchanan. A hit batsmen and an error charged to Russ Canzler set the table for Tyler Holt's RBI single which tied things at four apiece. Jesus Aguilar followed with an RBI single of his own to give the Clippers a lead for the time being.

Buchanan got a no-decision as he allowed five runs (three earned) on 10 hits to go along with four strikeouts over 6.2 IP.

RHP Seth Rosin (1.1 IP, K) had a scoreless outing in relief for the Pigs.

The series finale is Wednesday at 10:35 a.m. as RHP Phillippe Aumont (1-1, 1.73) takes the mound for Lehigh Valley and will be opposed by Columbus RHP Shaun Marcum (4-0, 1.38).