IronPigs Hold On to Top Tides, 5-3
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (27-25) held on for a 5-3 win over the Norfolk Tides (18-35) on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park.
In the top of the ninth, the Tides had runners at the corners with one out, but RHP Edward Mujica (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K) was able to fan Xavier Avery and get Ozzie Martinez to ground to second and end the threat to notch his 13th save of the season.
Trailing 5-3 in the top of the seventh, Norfolk had runners at first and second with one out, but LHP Mario Hollands (1.0 IP, 2 H, BB) got Martinez to ground into a 5-4-3 double play and end the inning.
Audry Perez's solo shot in the top of the second off of Pigs starter Ben Lively gave the Tides a 1-0 lead.
In the home half of the frame, the Pigs posted a pair of runs to grab a 2-1 lead for the time being as Cam Perkins knocked home a run via an RBI double and Brock Stassi (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R) delivered an RBI single.
Trey Mancini's two-run shot off of Lively in the top of the third opened up a 3-2 lead for Norfolk.
Lively (1-0) gave up three runs on four hits to go along with a walk and four strikeouts in 6.0 IP. Hollands and RHP Michael Mariot (1.0 IP) combined to toss the seventh and eighth innings for the IronPigs.
The win marks the first of his Triple-A career for Lively.
Taylor Featherston's solo shot off of Tides starter Ariel Miranda tied things at three apiece for the Pigs in the bottom of the third. The home run was Featherston's sixth of the season.
A two-run fourth gave the Pigs a 5-3 lead as Stassi and Angelys Nina each plated runs with RBI doubles in the frame.
Miranda (1-5) allowed the five runs on nine hits while fanning four over four innings of work.
Andrew Knapp (2-4, 2B) and Darin Ruf (2-4, 2B, R) also had multi-hit games for manager Dave Brundage's squad.
The Pigs will begin a four-game set with the Charlotte Knights on Thursday night. First pitch from BB&T Ballpark is set for 7:05 p.m. as LHP James Russell (1-1, 1.47) gets the ball for the Pigs against Charlotte RHP Erik Johnson (2-1, 3.21).