Late Runs Lift IronPigs to 5-3 Win

A pair of runs in the eighth inning lifted the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (10-7) to a 5-3 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox (10-8) on Sunday afternoon at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.

With the win, the IronPigs sit in first place in the North Division for the first time since July 19, 2012.

In the afore-mentioned eighth inning, Darnell Sweeney drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on Nick Williams' go-ahead RBI triple to the right centerfield gap. Williams later scored on Andrew Knapp's RBI double to give the IronPigs a 5-3 advantage.

Pawtucket starter Sean O'Sullivan (2-2) allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits to go along with a walk and ten strikeouts in 7.1 IP. The other run in the inning was charged to LHP Wesley Wright (1.2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 K).

LHP Bobby LaFromboise (1.1 IP, H, BB) earned the win for Lehigh Valley and is now 1-0 on the season. RHP Edward Mujica (1.0 IP) retired the side in order in the ninth to notch his fifth save of the year.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth as Pigs starter David Buchanan and O'Sullivan traded zeroes.

In the top of the fifth, Brock Stassi led off with a double and came around to score on a bunt single by Cam Perkins to give the IronPigs a 1-0 lead. There was also a throwing error by Pawtucket 3B Mike Miller on the play.

The Pigs added a pair of runs in the sixth to open up a 3-0 lead for the time being as Williams (3-4, 3B, RBI, 2 R) reached with a two-out single, advanced to third on a throwing error by O'Sullivan and scored on Knapp's RBI single. Knapp (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R) later scored on an RBI double from Stassi (2-4, 2 2B, RBI, R).

Pawtucket tied things at three apiece with a three-run seventh. Sandy Leon and Marco Hernandez each plated runs with RBI doubles while Deven Marrero knocked home a run with an RBI single. The PawSox had the bases loaded with two outs in the inning, but LaFromboise was able to get Sam Travis to ground into a force out and avoid any further damage.

Buchanan (n/d) gave up the three runs on nine hits while fanning three over 6.2 IP.

The IronPigs will open a three-game set at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday night. First pitch from PNC Field is set for 6:35 p.m. as RHP Jake Thompson (1-2, 5.14) gets the ball for the Pigs against RailRiders RHP Anthony Swarzak (0-2, 6.92).