Klein, Bats Lift IronPigs to 6-1 Win
Phil Klein allowed just one run over 7.2 IP and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (78-54) hit four home runs en route to a 6-1 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox (68-63) on Thursday night at McCoy Stadium.
Klein (4-1) allowed the one run on five hits while walking one and fanning seven in his 7.2 IP. RHP Luis Garcia (1.1 IP, H, 2 K) got the final four outs for the Pigs and extended his scoreless streak to 12.1 IP.
Logan Moore's two-run shot off of Pawtucket starter Justin Haley in the top of the third gave the IronPigs a 2-0 lead. The round-tripper was Moore's (2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R) fourth of the season.
The PawSox cut the lead to 2-1 in the home half of the frame via Mike Miller's solo blast off of Klein.
In the top of the fourth, Darin Ruf's solo shot off of Haley opened up a 3-1 lead for the Pigs. The home run was Ruf's (3-4, HR, RBI, 2 R) 20th of the season and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
The 20-home run season for Ruf is the first by an IronPigs player since Brandon Moss hit 23 in 2011.
Haley (7-5) gave up three runs on five hits to go along with two walks and six strikeouts in five innings of work.
A three-run eighth opened up a 6-1 advantage for Lehigh Valley as Cody Asche hit a two-run shot off of RHP Kyle Martin (1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 K) and Stassi delivered a solo home run later in the frame. The home run was Asche's fourth of the season and Stassi's 12th.
J.P. Crawford (2-5) also had a multi-hit game for manager Dave Brundage's squad.
The IronPigs will open a four-game set with the Buffalo Bisons on Friday night at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. as RHP David Buchanan (8-8, 4.13) gets the ball for the Pigs against Bisons LHP Scott Diamond (8-13, 4.12).