DeNato, Pigs Look To Avoid Sweep In Charlotte

The IronPigs (70-56) and Charlotte Knights (52-73) conclude their three-game series Sunday night. First pitch from BB&T Ballpark is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.  

The Pigs will send LHP Joey DeNato (1-0, 6.35) against the Knights who will send RHP Chris Volstad (2-9, 5.88). Today's starting pitching matchup is presented by Allentown Family Foot Care, which provides the latest in medical and surgical treatments of the entire foot and ankle. Learn more at affc.com.
LHP Joey DeNato makes his second start for the Pigs and ninth appearance overall. He went 5-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 21 appearances with Double-A Reading.
RHP Chris Volstad makes his 16^th start and 25^th overall appearance for the Knights this season. In his last six games, Volstad is 0-4 with his last loss coming against the Pigs on August 12.
The IronPigs (70-56) hit three solo home runs, but fell 5-3 to the Charlotte Knights (52-73) Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark.
Scott Kingery led off the game with an inside-the-park home run to extend his hitting streak to a team season-high 17 games and gave the Pigs a 1-0 lead.
Two batters later, newcomer Carlos Tocci launched his first career Triple-A homerun to left giving the Pigs and starter Brandon Leibrandt a 2-0 cushion.
After surrendering a hit in the bottom of the first inning, Leibrandt picked the runner off and retired the side in order. The southpaw also faced the minimum in his first four innings.
That was, however, until the Knights rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Jake Peter hit a two-run single to give the Knights a 3-2 advantage as he scored Ronald Bueno and Roberto Peña. A wild pitch by Leibrandt allowed Eddy Alvarez to score from third later in the inning to give Charlotte a 4-2 lead.
The four-run frame chased Leibrandt from the game as he was replaced by Michael Mariot. Leibrandt was tabbed with his third-consecutive loss, as he pitched four 2/3 innings surrendering the four runs on four hits while striking out four.
Andrew Pullin brought the Pigs within a run as he launched a solo blast to right field, making it a 4-3 contest.
Yacksel Ríos then came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning for the Pigs, having not allowed an earned run in 11 2/3 innings. Rymer Liriano quickly ended that streak with one swing of the bat as he hit a solo home run to left to up the Knights lead to 5-3.
The Pigs would not go quietly in the top of the ninth, as Brock Stassi walked to lead off the frame.
Unfortunatley for the Pigs, Charlotte closer Brandon Brennan would not allow another base runner as he struck out Angelo Mora and Dylan Cozens bounced out to second before Pullin flew out to left to end the game.
The Pigs have now lost 13 of their last 16 games and have lost five consecutive series.
 The 2017 Season is the IronPigs 10^th Anniversary season at Coca-Cola Park and 10^th as the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The IronPigs are debuting the brand-new Bacon, USA, Membership Program this season -- a year-round IronPigs experience pass featuring numerous new amenities such as savings on parking at games and at the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Coca-Cola Park, on-field VIP access to watch batting practice, access to an annual holiday party, an invitation to an exclusive player and coaches photo session and more. For more information, visit ironpigsbaseball.com or call (610) 841-PIGS (7447). Memberships and group outings are on sale now.
The 2017 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.