Pigs Fall In Series Opener 5-1

Jorge Alfaro launched his seventh home run of the season, but the IronPigs (64-42) lost the opener of the three-game set to the Durham Bulls (65-40) Fridayday night, 5-1 at Coca Cola Park before 9,808 fans. As the Pigs welcomed their six millionth fan in Brian Geiger.

The Bulls would score a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings and then add a pair in the seventh inning on a Jake Hager two-run home run in route to their 5-1 victory over the Pigs.
Mike Marjama led off the third inning with a triple to left-center field, and was plated on the very next batter in former IronPig Taylor Featherston. Featherston grounded out to J.P. Crawford as Marjama came in to score to tie the game at 1.
Featherston struck again in the top of the fourth, as he sent an RBI single to right field scoring Patrick Leonard who doubled to right earlier in the inning giving Durham a 2-1 advantage.
In the fifth inning, Hager would reach on an fielding error by first baseman Rhys Hoskins. On the play, Pigs starting pitcher Ben Lively was struck with a comebacker up the middle of Hager's bat. Jorge Alfaro would jump on the ball and throw to first in time to make the out, however, it went off the glove of Hoskins and trickled down the right field wall allowing Hager to advance to second.
Lively would exit the game, receiving assistance from Pigs Trainer Jon May and Manager Dusty Wathan.
Yacksel Ríos would replace Lively and threw a wild pitch to Willy Adames, allowing Hager to move to third base. Willy Adames then grounded out to Hoskins as Hager scored to up the Bulls lead to 3-1.
Rios retired six batters in a row, only allowing the inherited runner to score.
Michael Mariot then spelled Rios in the top of the seventh inning and issued a one-out walk to Grant Kay, before Hager hit the two-run home run to give the Bulls a 5-1 lead.
The Pigs scored their lone run of the night in the bottom of the second inning, as Jorge Alfaro launched a 405 foot home run to left-center field, giving the Pigs a 1-0 lead at the time.
The series continues with game two of the three-game series, Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. at Coca Cola Park . The Pigs will send right-hander Zach Eflin (1-2,4.60) and the Bulls will send right-hander Yonny Chirinos (11-3, 2.97). Fans will enjoy postgame fireworks themed to the music of the band The Grateful Dead.
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.