Iron Pigs Slug Their Way to Series Opening Victory Over PawSox

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (13-4) smacked three home runs en route to a 9-4 victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox (7-10) in game one of their three game set.
The PawSox jumped on Iron Pigs starter Nick Pivetta (W, 1-0) in the very first inning thanks to an RBI single from Rusney Castillo.
Pawtucket held a 1-0 lead until the top of the third inning. Shane Robinson singled to right, and Malquin Canelo scored on an error to tie the game at one.
Lehigh Valley took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the fourth inning on a solo home run from Deivy Grullon, who extended his hitting streak to eight games.
The Iron Pigs added three more in the fifth inning. Dylan Cozens lined a three-run home run to right field to make it 5-1. Lehigh Valley has now slugged an International League-leading 30 home runs as a club in 17 games.
In the bottom half of the frame, Rusney Castillo blasted a three-run, opposite-field home run to make it a 5-4 contest.
For Castillo, it was his third home run of the season. The outfielder did not his third home run last season until June 7. Tonight, he drove in all four runs, which was the most runs driven in by a Pawtucket batter in a game so far this season, and it tied his International League career-high.
Lane Adams hit Lehigh Valley's third home run of the game in the sixth inning off Domingo Tapia to make it 6-4.
Lehigh Valley grabbed three more in the eighth inning to make it 9-4.
After starting the season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Pivetta went 6 innings allowing 4 runs while striking out 9.
PawSox righty Chandler Shepherd (L, 0-3) went 5 innings giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits while walking 2. He tied his International League career-high with 9 strikeouts.
The PawSox continue their three-game series with the Iron Pigs tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. Pawtucket right-hander Teddy Stankiewicz is scheduled to make his season debut and oppose Iron Pigs southpaw Cole Irvin (1-0, 1.53 ERA). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 5:35 p.m.
The homestand wraps up Thursday afternoon at 12:05 p.m. Good tickets are available, and fans can visit the McCoy Stadium box office, which is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., and during all home games. Fans can also call (401) 724-7300 or log on to PawSox.com for tickets.