Pigs Hold On to Top Braves, 7-5

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (36-29) raced out to an early 7-1 lead and held on to top the Gwinnett Braves (30-36) by a score of 7-5 on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park.

With the win, the Pigs are seven games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2012 season with a record of 75-68.

Trailing 7-5, Gwinnett had runners at the corners with two outs in the ninth, but RHP Edward Mujica (1.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER) got Emilio Bonifacio to ground to first and end the threat. Ozzie Albies had cut the lead to 7-5 with an RBI single earlier in the frame. Mujica picked up his 15^th save of the year.

In the top of the seventh with the Pigs holding a 7-4 lead, the Braves had the bases loaded with two outs, but RHP Edubray Ramos (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K) got Albies to fly to right and end the inning.

Bonifacio's solo shot in the top of the first off of Pigs starter Anthony Vasquez gave the G-Braves an early 1-0 lead.

Taylor Featherston quickly tied things at one apiece for the Pigs with a leadoff solo shot off of Braves starter Lucas Sims in the home half of the frame. The home run was Featherston's ninth of the season.

A four-run third opened up a 5-1 lead for the IronPigs as David Lough (2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R) came through with the big blow in the inning with a two-run triple down the right field line, Emmanuel Burriss plated a run via an RBI double and Brock Stassi (3-4, 2B, RBI, R) delivered an RBI single.

Lehigh Valley extended the lead to 7-1 with a pair of runs in the fourth as Andrew Knapp knocked home a run with an RBI single and scored from first on Darin Ruf's RBI double later in the inning.

Sims (2-6) gave up the seven runs on nine hits to go along with three walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 IP.

Gwinnett cut the lead to 7-4 with a three-run fifth as Ronnier Mustelier drove home a pair with a two-run double and Daniel Castro came through with an RBI single. With the bases loaded and one out in the frame, RHP Luis Garcia came on in relief of Vasquez and Castro was caught in a rundown for the second out before Garcia fanned Braeden Schlehuber to end the inning.

Garcia (1.2 IP, H, 2 BB, K) earned the win for the IronPigs to improve to 4-1 on the year.

Vasquez (n/d) allowed the four runs on seven hits while walking four and fanning a pair in 4.1 IP.

J.P. Crawford (3-3, 2 2B, 2 R, SB) also had a multi-hit game for manager Dave Brundage's squad.

The series wraps up on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. as RHP Jake Thompson (5-5, 3.42) will be on the bump for the Pigs against Braves RHP Lucas Harrell (2-1, 4.29).