IronPigs Shut Out PawSox, 2-0

(Allentown, PA) - Led by starter Phil Klein, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs shut out the Pawtucket Red Sox, 2-0, in the first contest of a two-game series on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park.

The PawSox (71-65) were held to five hits in the defeat, three of which belonged to Dan Butler.

Butler is 10-for-14 over his last four games, while he is batting .366 in 34 games since June.

The IronPigs (81-56) scored both of their runs with a pair of two-out rallies against Pawtucket starter Justin Haley (7-6).

In the first inning, Nick Williams doubled to left and Darin Ruf grounded an RBI single into left center field that just eluded the reach of a diving Deven Marrero.

In the fourth inning, Cody Asche doubled to right and Brock Stassi drove him home by lining an opposite-field hit against Pawtucket's defensive shift that was playing him to pull.

Overall, Haley surrendered the two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings of work. He struck out six and walked two in his third straight start against Lehigh Valley.

Haley exited the game after he allowed a single and a double in the sixth. Kyle Martin induced a fly ball to left for the final out of the frame and went on to toss a scoreless seventh.

Heath Hembree pitched around a single for a scoreless eighth inning.

Klein (5-1) struck out nine and allowed only two hits in his seven innings pitched.

He retired the final eight batters he faced. In his last two starts, Klein has held the PawSox to one run on seven hits in 14.2 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts.

Relievers Colton Murray and Luis Garcia closed out the shutout for the IronPigs.

Pawtucket strung together a threat in the eighth inning, loading the bases with two outs on two singles and a walk. But Garcia, Lehigh Valley's closer, got Bryce Brentz to softly ground out to shortstop.

The PawSox finish their two-game series against the IronPpigs with their final road game of the season tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket lefthander Henry Owens (9-6, 3.52) is scheduled to make the start against Lehigh Valley righthander David Buchanan (8-9, 4.23). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 6:35 p.m.

The PawSox return home on Thursday for the final five games of the 2016 season. Good seats for all games on the homestand are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office; call (401) 724-7300 or visit pawsox.com to get your tickets today.