Thompson, Bats Help Pigs Blank Bisons

Jake Thompson tossed seven shutout innings and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (54-39) scored 10 runs on 15 hits en route to a 10-0 victory over the Buffalo Bisons (50-43) on Friday night at Coca-Cola Park.

Thompson (8-5) gave up three hits to go along with a walk and five strikeouts over his 7.0 IP. The 22-year-old has allowed just four earned runs in his last 56.1 IP and is 4-0 with a 0.64 ERA over his last eight starts.

With the win, the Pigs are 15 games over .500 for the first time since they were 51-36 on July 5, 2012.

A three-run first opened up a 3-0 lead for the IronPigs as Nick Williams (4-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) knocked home a run with an RBI single, Darin Ruf plated a run via a sac fly and Andrew Knapp (3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R) followed with an RBI single of his own.

In the bottom of the third, Brock Stassi (3-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, R) delivered the big blow in the inning with a three-run shot off of Buffalo starter Chris Leroux as part of a four-run third and Ruf knocked home a run in the frame via an RBI single. The home run was Stassi's sixth of the season and extended the lead for the IronPigs to 7-0.

Leroux (7-6) gave up the seven runs on 10 hits while walking two and fanning two in 4.0 IP.

David Lough's solo shot off of RHP Bobby Korecky (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER) in the bottom of the sixth gave Lehigh Valley an 8-0 advantage. The home run was Lough's first of the season and his first since June 23, 2015. Later in the frame, Taylor Featherston (3-4, 2 2B, 2 R) reached with a one-out double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Williams' RBI single to open up a 9-0 lead for the Pigs.

The IronPigs struck again in the bottom of the seventh to make it 10-0 in favor of the hosts as Knapp led off with a double, went to third on a single and scored when Cam Perkins grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

The four-hit game for Williams was his first since he notched four on August 24, 2015 with Reading (AA).

RHP Colton Murray (1.0 IP, K) and RHP Michael Mariot (1.0 IP, 2 K) each had a scoreless outing in relief for manager Dave Brundage's squad.

The series continues on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. as LHP Adam Morgan (1-1, 3.57) gets the ball for the IronPigs against Bisons LHP Scott Diamond (6-8, 3.57).