Vasquez Shines in Debut as Pigs Sweep Chiefs

By Joe Fitzhenry (Photo Credit: Digital Photographic Imaging)

May 20, 2015

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (15-26) completed their first series sweep of 2015 with a 2-1 win over the Syracuse Chiefs (16-24) on Wednesday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse.

In his IronPigs debut, LHP Anthony Vasquez (1-0) allowed a run on three hits to go along with two walks and six strikeouts over 5.1 IP. The southpaw also notched the first hit of his professional career with a single in the sixth inning.

The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth as Vasquez and a couple of Syracuse hurlers in Mitch Lively (4.0 IP, H, 4 K) and Erik Davis (1.0 IP, H, 2 K) traded zeroes.

In the top of the sixth, the IronPigs took a 2-0 lead as Vasquez singled to leadoff, Chase d'Arnaud walked and Brian Bogusevic reached on an error before Chris McGuiness (1-4, RBI) plated Vasquez with an RBI single to give Lehigh Valley the first run of the game for either side. Tyler Henson followed with a sac fly to drive home d'Arnaud and give the Pigs a 2-0 advantage.

Chiefs RHP Manny Delcarmen (0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, BB, K) gave up both runs and took the loss to fall to 1-3 on the season.

Syracuse's Mark Minicozzi hit a solo shot to right in the home half of the same frame to cut the lead to 2-1. It was the first home run of the season for Minicozzi.

That would be the final run of the game as RHP Seth Rosin (2.2 IP, H, BB) and LHP Cesar Jimenez (1.0 IP, H) teamed up to fire 3.2 shutout innings and close the door for the IronPigs. Jimenez got Josh Johnson to ground into a 1-6-3 double play to end the game and pick up his third save of the season. The scoreless inning also allowed him to extend his current scoreless streak to 13.2 IP.

The two teams combined for just 10 hits in the game; with each side managing five apiece.

The Pigs return home and begin a four-game set with the Charlotte Knights at Coca-Cola Park on Thursday night. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. as LHP Joely Rodriguez (1-3, 6.05) gets the ball for Lehigh Valley and will be opposed by Charlotte RHP Kyle Drabek (0-1, 1.80).