Pettibone, Murphy Power Pigs Past Braves

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - A strong performance by the pitching staff and a three-run homer by 1B Jim Murphy helped lead the IronPigs to their second straight victory down south, winning 6-1 over Gwinnett.

RHP Jonathan Pettibone made his third start as an IronPig this season, and got credit for his second win after hurling five innings of one-run ball, allowing only four hits. The one run given up by the Californian came in the fifth inning on two singles, one on either side of a sacrifice bunt by opposing pitcher Cody Martin, with the Pigs already leading 3-0.

Lehigh Valley acquired that three-run lead in the fourth inning when Murphy continued his hitting streak - which now sits at eleven games - with a three-run shot off of Martin. The homerun put the Oakland, Cal., native just over the halfway point of Donald Brown's IronPigs franchise record 21-game hitting streak.

Reid Brignac added a double and two RBI on the night, and has a hitting streak of his own. The Louisiana native has now hit safely in seven straight games, and fourteen of his last fifteen; batting .352 with seven doubles and eleven RBI over that period.

The bullpen of Pitching Coach Ray Burris was strong on Friday, allowing only one baserunner in four innings pitched between three relievers. LHP Jeremy Horst and RHP Seth Rosin pitched perfect sixth and seventh innings respectively, each striking out one. RHP Phillippe Aumont then came in and pitched a perfect eighth inning, before surrendering one hit the ninth before closing the door on the G-Braves.

The IronPigs (13-14) will send RHP David Buchanan to the mound on Saturday night, as they attempt to return to .500 for the fourth time in 2014. Lehigh Valley will face a lefty as Daniel Rodriguez will toe the rubber for the Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.