Pigs Sweep Chiefs in Doubleheader
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (63-41) swept the Syracuse Chiefs (47-56) in a doubleheader on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park. The Pigs won game one by a score of 8-5 before capturing game two by a 4-2 count.
The series wraps up on Wednesday at 11:35 a.m. as RHP Ben Lively (4-4, 3.86) will be on the bump for the IronPigs against Syracuse RHP Austin Voth (5-6, 3.45).
Game One
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs used a seven-run second to notch an 8-5 win over the Syracuse Chiefs in game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park.
Jason Martinson's three-run shot off of Pigs starter Jake Thompson in the top of the first gave the Chiefs an early 3-0 lead.
In the afore-mentioned seven-run second for the Pigs, back-to-back solo shots from Brock Stassi and Cedric Hunter off of Chiefs starter Taylor Hill started the inning before Emmanuel Burriss tied things at three apiece with an RBI single and a throwing error from Chiefs CF Brian Goodwin allowed another run to score on the play and give the IronPigs the lead. Leading 4-3 with the bases loaded later in the inning, Nick Williams cleared the bases with a three-run double into the right centerfield gap. The home runs was Stassi's eighth of the season.
Hill (4-9) gave up the seven runs (six earned) on four hits while walking three and fanning one in 1.1 IP.
Syracuse cut the lead to 7-4 with a run in the third as Christopher Bostick reached with a one-out triple and scored on Goodwin's RBI groundout.
Goodwin's RBI single in the top of the fifth brought the Chiefs within 7-5. Later in the frame, the visitors had the bases loaded with two outs, but Thompson fanned Martinson to end the inning.
Thompson (10-5) allowed the five runs on seven hits to go along with a walk and three strikeouts in 5.0 IP.
Hunter (2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) struck again in the bottom of the fifth with his second home run of the night to give the Pigs an 8-5 lead. The home runs were Hunter's seventh and eighth of the season.
The multi-homer game was Hunter's first since May 23, 2014 with Mississippi (AA) and the third of his career.
RHP Michael Mariot (1.0 IP, BB, K) and RHP Luis Garcia (1.0 IP, BB, K) each had a scoreless outing in relief for manager Dave Brundage's squad. Garcia notched his fifth save of the year.
Game Two
Darnell Sweeney's go-ahead, two-run double with two outs in the fifth proved to be difference in the game as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs picked up a 4-2 win over the Syracuse Chiefs in game two of a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Trailing 2-1 at the time, the Pigs had runners at first and second with two outs before Sweeney came through in the clutch with the double off of RHP Koda Glover (0.1 IP, H) who had come on in relief of Syracuse starter Aaron Laffey.
Laffey (4-4) allowed the three runs on three hits while fanning one in 4.2 IP.
The Chiefs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first as Bostick led off with a double, advanced to third on a bunt single and scored on Goodwin's sac fly.
Darin Ruf's solo shot off of Laffey tied things at one apiece in the home half of the second. The home run was Ruf's team-leading 13th of the year.
Syracuse took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third when Bostick drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on a single and scored later in the inning when Jason Martinson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The IronPigs picked up an insurance run in the sixth to extend the lead to 4-2 as Nick Williams led off with a single, advanced to second on a hit by pitch, took third when Aaron Altherr grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and scored on Andrew Knapp's two-out RBI single.
Pigs starter Adam Morgan (4-1) allowed two runs on four hits while walking three and fanning six in five innings of work. RHP Colton Murray (1.0 IP, H, K) and RHP Dalier Hinojosa (1.0 IP, 2 K) combined to get the final six outs for Lehigh Valley. Hinojosa notched his first save of the year.