Four-Run Third Lifts IronPigs to 5-2 Win
A four-run third helped lift the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (80-55) to a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Bisons (65-71) on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo.
With the win, the IronPigs have now tied a franchise record for most wins in a single season which was previously set with an 80-64 record in 2011.
In the afore-mentioned four-run third, Brock Stassi came through with the big blow in the inning via a two-run double while Andrew Knapp and Darin Ruf each delivered RBI singles to give the Pigs a 4-1 lead. Ruf's single extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
Bisons starter Mike Bolsinger (1-4) allowed the four runs (three earned) on seven hits while walking two and fanning eight in 5.0 IP.
Buffalo took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first as Dalton Pompey led off with a double, advanced to third on a sac bunt and scored on Darrell Ceciliani's RBI single.
Pigs starter Ben Lively (10-5) gave up one run on two hits to go along with one walk and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ceciliani reached with a two-out single, went to second on a hit by pitch and scored on Matt Dominguez's RBI single to bring the Bisons within 4-2. The run was charged to Pigs LHP Hoby Milner (0.2 IP, H, R, ER).
Stassi (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R) led off the top of the eighth with a single, took second on a sac bunt, went to third on a groundout and scored on Taylor Featherston's (3-5, 2 2B, RBI) two-out RBI double to open up a 5-2 advantage for Lehigh Valley.
RHP Colton Murray (0.2 IP, 3 H), LHP Joely Rodriguez (1.0 IP, H, K) and RHP Luis Garcia (1.2 IP, K) all had a scoreless outing in relief for manager Dave Brundage's squad. Garcia got the final five outs to notch his 11th save of the year.
The series wraps up on Monday at 7:05 p.m. as RHP Nick Pivetta (0-1, 2.40) gets the ball for the Pigs against Buffalo RHP Casey Lawrence (4-5, 3.95).