Thompson, Bats Lift Pigs to 11-3 Win

RHP Jake Thompson tossed six shutout innings and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (30-26) hit five home runs to pick up an 11-3 win over the Charlotte Knights (29-29) on Sunday afternoon at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte.

Thompson (4-5) gave up three hits while walking two and fanning three over his six innings of work.

The IronPigs had 11 hits in the game, eight of which went for extra bases.

Darnell Sweeney's two-run shot off of Charlotte starter Anthony Ranaudo in the top of the third gave the IronPigs a 2-0 lead. The home run was Sweeney's (2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) third of the season and his first since April 20 at Syracuse.

Andrew Knapp's solo shot in the top of the fourth off of Ranaudo gave the Pigs a 3-0 advantage. Knapp's round-tripper was his seventh of the season.

In the top of the sixth, Taylor Featherston (2-5, 2B, HR, RBI, 3 R) led off with a solo shot off Ranaudo to open up a 4-0 lead for Lehigh Valley. The home run was Featherston's seventh of the season.

Ranaudo (1-2) allowed the four runs on four hits while fanning three over seven innings of work.

A five-run eighth broke the game open for the Pigs and opened up a 9-0 lead as Will Venable (2-4, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 R) hit a solo shot off of RHP Phillippe Aumont, Nick Williams came through with an RBI triple, Darin Ruf plated one with an RBI single and a wild pitch from Aumont (0.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB) allowed another run to score. The home run was Venable's second of the year.

Charlotte got on the board in the eighth and cut the lead to 9-1 as Brett Hayes reached with a one-out double and scored on Carlos Sanchez's two-out RBI double. The run was charged to Pigs RHP Edubray Ramos (2.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 K) which snapped his scoreless streak at 15.2 IP.

Williams' two-run shot off of RHP Blake Smith (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, K) in the top of the ninth gave the Pigs an 11-1 advantage. Williams' (2-5, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R) round- tripper was his seventh of the season.

A two-run ninth for Charlotte cut the lead to 11-3 as Vinny Rottino knocked home a run with an RBI double and later scored on Andy Parrino's RBI single. Both runs were charged to RHP Frank Herrmann (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 K).

The Pigs will open a four-game set with the Gwinnett Braves on Monday night at Coolray Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. as RHP Ben Lively (1-0, 3.46) will be on the bump for Lehigh Valley against Gwinnett RHP Lucas Harrell (2-0, 4.50).