IronPigs Release 2012 Schedule

A plethora of premier summer dates and two dozen home games against the Yankees', Red Sox' and Mets' Triple-A affiliates accentuate the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 2012 home schedule, the International League announced on Thursday. The excitement gets underway with the home opener of the club's fifth anniversary season on Wednesday, April 11 against the Syracuse Chiefs as a part of a five-game home stand.

The 144-game schedule, featuring 72 home games at Coca-Cola Park, is highlighted by 22 weekend games (11 on Saturday and 11 on Sunday) and 12 Friday night contests. A season-long nine-game home stand against Rochester, Pawtucket and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre runs from June 26 through Independence Day on July 4. Additional holiday home games are set for Father's Day on June 17 and Labor Day on September 3.

The IronPigs will host their rival Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the New York Yankees Triple-A affiliate, for a total of eight games beginning with a two-game set on April 26-27. The teams will also tangle at Coca-Cola Park July 2-4 and August 25-27.

The Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston's top farm club, will also play a total of eight games at Coca-Cola Park with series scheduled for June 1-4, June 30-July 1 and August 1-2. The New York Mets Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, swing by Coca-Cola Park April 23-25, August 8-9 and over Labor Day weekend on September 1-3 to conclude the 2012 regular season.

All clubs will enjoy a three-day break from July 9-11 for the 25th annual Triple-A All-Star game featuring the premier players in Minor League Baseball from both the International League and Pacific Coast League. This year's contest will be held in Buffalo, N.Y., at Coca-Cola Field on July 11.

Per International League procedure, the IronPigs will play each team in their division, the North Division, 16 times (eight home, eight away); and teams in the South and West Division eight times (four home, four away). Lehigh Valley's North Division opponents are the Buffalo Bisons (New York-N), Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston), Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (New York-A) and the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington). Teams in the South Division are the Charlotte Knights (Chicago-A), Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay), Norfolk Tides (Baltimore) and Gwinnett Braves (Atlanta). The West Division consists of the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland), Louisville Bats (Cincinnati), Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh) and Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit).

Starting times will be announced at a later date but are expected to remain similar to 2011.

To renew or order season tickets for the 2012 IronPigs season presented by Capital BlueCross, call (610) 841-PIGS or visit Coca-Cola Park's ticket office during normal business hours.

2012 Lehigh Valley IronPigs Schedule

APRIL

5-6 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

7-10 @ Pawtucket

11-13 vs. Syracuse

14-15 vs. Rochester

16-19 @ Buffalo'

20-22 @ Rochester

23-25 vs. Buffalo

26-27 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

28-29 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

MAY

1-4 vs. Charlotte

5-6 vs. Syracuse

7-10 @ Indianapolis

11-14 @ Louisville

15-18 vs. Indianapolis

19-22 vs. Louisville

24-27 @ Charlotte

28-31 @ Gwinnett

June

1-4 vs. Pawtucket

5-8 vs. Gwinnett

9-12 @ Syracuse

14-17 vs. Durham

18-21 @ Toledo

22-25 @ Columbus

26-29 vs. Rochester

30 vs. Pawtucket

July

1 vs. Pawtucket

2-4 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

5-6 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

7-8 @ Rochester

9-11 ALL-STAR BREAK @ BUFFALO

12-15 @ Norfolk

16-19 @ Durham

20-23 vs. Columbus

24-27 vs. Norfolk

28-31 @ Syracuse

August

1-2 vs. Pawtucket

3-6 @ Pawtucket

8-9 vs. Buffalo

10-11 vs. Syracuse

12-13 vs. Rochester

14-17 @ Buffalo

18-21 vs. Toledo

22-24 @ Rochester

25-27 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

29-30 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

31 vs. Syracuse

September

1-3 vs. Buffalo