Pigs fall to Indy in homestand finale

After leading by three runs midway through the finale of their four-game series, Lehigh Valley couldn't contain the Indianapolis Indians, eventually falling 15-6 in 10 innings. Fortunately, the Pigs still maintain their nine-game lead over the IL North Division and see their magic number trimmed to six.

Making a Good Shepherd rehab start, Jerad Eickhoff surrendered a solo home run in the first inning, but the right-hander blanked Indy for the rest of his day. Eickhoff was only an out shy of potentially earning a win before hitting his pitch limit and being removed from the game.
In the first inning, the first three Pigs hitters were able to reach safely, including an RBI single from Mitch Walding and a solo home run from Aaron Altherr to plate three runs. Zach Green ripped a double in the fourth inning to score another run for Lehigh Valley.
Tom Eshelman, who was initially scheduled to start the contest entered in the sixth but made it just 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and walking six. The Indians continued to rally in the eighth and brought home a leading run when Ryan Lavarnway doubled against Mark Leiter Jr.
Trevor Plouffe led off the ninth with a single and quickly came home to score on a Matt McBride triple to tie the game. The potential winning run was stranded on third, forcing the game into extra innings.
Indy racked up 10 runs in the final frame, nine off Will Hibbs in his Triple-A debut, putting the game out of reach. Plouffe shifted over to the mound to record the final two outs for Lehigh Valley.
The Pigs have an off day on Monday, and open up a short three-game roadtrip at NBT Bank Stadium against the Syracuse Chiefs starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. Only one homestand remains in the 2018 regular season as the Pigs host the RailRiders August 24-27. Fans can catch Queen-themed Friday Night Fireworks presented by Penn State Lehigh Valley, and 7,000 adults 18 and older can pick up a 2019 IronPigs wall calendar presented by Nacci Printing.
The 2018 Season is the IronPigs' 11th season at Coca-Cola Park and 11th as the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Fans can get closer to the team than ever before with a Bacon, USA membership -- a year-round IronPigs experience pass featuring numerous 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 the annual holiday party, and more. For more information, click here or call (610) 841-PIGS (7447).
The 2018 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.