Gomez Finishes Double Away From Cycle

Héctor Gómez finished a double away from the cycle and the Pigs tied a season-high 17 hits as the IronPigs (38-19) took a 12-1 victory over the Buffalo Bisons (31-24) Monday night at Coca-Cola Park.

Gomez began his cycle bid by scoring the Pigs first three runs of the game with a solo home run to left in the second inning, and a two-run triple to right-center in the third inning to give the Pigs a 3-0 lead after three.
Buffalo avoided the shutout as Shane Opitz scored on a Jason Leblebijian sacrifice fly to center field after Opitz led off the frame with a double to right-center.
The Pigs third baseman then jumpstarted a six-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning with a single to left field. Nick Williams then followed with an RBI triple to left-center field to give the Pigs a 4-1 lead. Pedro Florimón then unloaded on a 2-2 pitch and deposited it over the left field wall for a two-run homer to give the Pigs a 6-1 lead. Three batters later J.P. Crawford singled home Logan Moore to stretch the Pigs lead to 7-1 advantage before Rhys Hoskins capped off the inning with a two-run double to give the Pigs a 9-1 lead.
In the sixth, the Pigs tallied the six-run inning on a season-high seven hits in the frame.
Gomez then led off the seventh inning as well as the Pigs batted around in the sixth. Gomez then laced a hot shot down the third base line that was backhanded by Leblebijian, but Gomez beat out an infield single. Had the ball gotten through, it would have been a no doubt cycle clinching double for Gomez. After settling for an infield single, Gomez moved to third on two straight singles by Williams and Florimon to load the bases for catcher Logan Moore. Moore then sent a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Gomez to up the Pigs lead to 10-1. The Pigs then added their 11^th run on a RBi single by Crawford to give the Pigs a 11-1 advantage after seven.
The Pigs tallied their last run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Williams RBI single scoring Hoby Milner who pinch ran for Dylan Cozens after the 23-year-old singled to left to lead off the inning.
Pigs starter Tom Eshelman pitched yet another gem as he tossed seven inning, allowing just one run on five hits while fanning six batters.
Gomez finished the night 4-for-5 with a home run, a triple, and two singles missing the cycle by a double. The last IronPigs player to accomplish the feat was Maikel Franco, who did so on August 23, 2014 in game two of a doubleheader against the Syracuse Chiefs.
The series continues with game two of the three-game set Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park. The Pigs will send left-hander César Ramos (4-1, 1.72) and the Bisons will counter with their own southpaw in Brett Oberholtzer (1-3, 2.53). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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.