Knapp's Blast Lifts Pigs to 4-3 Win
Andrew Knapp's go-ahead solo shot in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference in the game as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (82-56) topped the Pawtucket Red Sox (71-66) by a score of 4-3 on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park.
The Pigs can clinch a playoff spot with a win on Thursday night at Rochester.
The home run was Knapp's eighth of the season and his first in 237 at-bats dating back to June 5 at Charlotte.
The IronPigs took a 1-0 lead with a run in the third as Darnell Sweeney drew a leadoff walk and scored from first on Cam Perkins' (2-4, RBI) RBI double.
In the bottom of the fourth, a single and a walk put two men on with two outs before Sweeney plated both runners with a two-run double to give the Pigs a 3-0 lead.
PawSox starter Henry Owens (9-7) allowed the four runs on five hits while walking three and fanning six in 5.2 IP.
A three-run sixth tied things at three apiece for Pawtucket as Chris Marrero knocked home a pair with a two-run double, went to third on an error and scored on Jantzen Witte's sac fly to tie the game.
Pigs starter David Buchanan (9-9) gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits to go along with two walks and two strikeouts in 7.0 IP. LHP Joely Rodriguez (1.0 IP, H, K) and RHP Luis Garcia (1.0 IP, 2 K) got the final six outs for the IronPigs. Garcia notched his 13th save of the year and extended his scoreless streak to 16.1 IP.
Darin Ruf was 0-4 for the IronPigs and saw his hitting streak come to an end at 16 games.
The Pigs will open a crucial two-game set with the Rochester Red Wings on Thursday night at Frontier Field. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. as LHP Anthony Vasquez (4-0, 2.83) will be on the bump for the Pigs against Rochester LHP Nick Greenwood (5-3, 3.11).