Cozens Walk Off Homer Powers Pigs To Fifth Consecutive Win

Dylan Cozens sent a walk off home run to right center field to give the IronPigs (19-13) a 2-1 victory over the Rochester Red Wings (14-14) in 11 innings Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park before 5,598 fans.

Leading off the bottom of the 11^th inning, Cozens launched a solo shot 411 feet to right field to power the Pigs to their season-high fifth straight victory.
In a game that lasted three hours, two minutes, that saw numerous great defensive plays to save the game but none more important than in the top of the ninth inning. With one out and the go-ahead run for the Red Wings on third, ByungHo Park bounced a hard shot to Pigs third baseman Héctor Gómez. Gomez dove to make the snag and jumped up and threw to first to retire Park and keep Tommy Field at bay at third.
The Red Wings however would load the bases after two-consecutive walks to Daniel Palka and Mitch Garver. With the bases loaded and two outs, Pigs reliever Luis García was able to make Niko Goodrum bounce out to Jesmuel Valentín to end the threat.
Rochester struck first in the top of the second as a leadoff double from Daniel Palka led to an RBI single by Ben Paulsen two batters latter to give the Red Wings a 1-0 advantage.
Cozens leadoff the top of the fourth inning with a double to straight-away center field, setting the table for Taylor Featherston, who laced a two-out RBI double to right-center field to tie the game at 1.
Pigs starter Aaron Nola tossed four innings in his Good Shepherd rehab outing, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three Red Wings batters.
The combination of César Ramos, Pat Venditte, Garcia, Hoby Milner and Michael Mariot (1-1, 4.63) went seven scoreless innings allowing just two hits and fanning five batters.
Venditte continued his brilliant start to the 2017 season, as the switch-pitcher has still yet to yield a run of any kind in 16.1 innings. The Omaha, Neb., native tossed two innings and struck out a pair.
Mariot picked up his first win of the season as he pitched the top of the 11^th inning for the Pigs and retired the side in order.
The Pigs now welcome the Buffalo Bisons (18-12) for a four-game series with first place in the International League's North Division on the line. Right-hander Ricardo Pinto (2-3, 4.83) will start for the Pigs and the Bisons will send left-hander T.J. House (4-1, 1.24). Thursday night will include a Steve Carlton Bobblehead Giveaway presented by St. Luke's University Health Network given out to the first 3,000 fans 18 and older.
 The 2017 Season is the IronPigs 10^th Anniversary season at Coca-Cola Park and 10^th as the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The IronPigs are debuting the brand-new Bacon, USA, Membership Program this season -- a year-round IronPigs experience pass featuring numerous new 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 an annual holiday party, an invitation to an exclusive player and coaches photo session and more. For more information, visit ironpigsbaseball.com or call (610) 841-PIGS (7447). Memberships and group outings are on sale now.
The 2017 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.