The Ironpigs got on the board early with a Cory Sullivan sacrifice fly to score Rich Thompson in the first but the Chiefs responded in the bottom half of the inning with 3 hits and 2 runs in response.
Syracuse tagged on 2 more runs in the 3rd inning when Chris Marrero homered. Both teams added another run, Pigs in the 4th and Chiefs in the 5th. The Pigs brought it to a one run deficit in the 7th with a Delwyn Young pinch hit 2 run home run.
Going into the top of the 8th the Pigs regained the lead when Jeff Larish hit his 3rd home run of the season to put the Pigs up 6 to 5. (Who was complaining about Larish not being a home run hitter?) This kick started a 6 run inning that showed the Ironpig bats are definately coming alive! With pitching as we have been getting and the overall hitting effort these guys are putting up… we can look forward to a lot of excitement this season!
Rain started coming down hard in the top of the ninth bringing on a rain delay that ended the game with a Pig’s Win!
For the pitching staff:
Bass went 4 innings allowing 4 runs on 5 hits striking out 3 and walking 2.
Perez came on in the 5th for 2 innings allowing a solo HR to Marerro while striking out 3.
Stutes pitched the 7th and 8th allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 4.
Final score, Pigs 10 Chiefs 6.
With SWB Yankee’s loss today the Ironpigs have sole possession of first place in the Northern Division!!!!
OinK!
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
Go Pigs! We were following the game on the app while watching the Rockies beat the Cubs on WGN … and snickering at the fact that Ivan DeJesus (of all people) is now coaching third for the Cubs (the job Ryno should have had if they didn’t deem him ready to manage), while Ryno is managing the Pigs to their best record in team history. 1982 called. It didn’t say anything — just giggled hysterically and hung up. 🙂
That’s great! I think I need to use that for my Twitter update! OinK!
It does seem like the lineup is starting to settle in a bit, as I was hoping for.
The skip is liking Richie Thompson at the lead off, and I must say that I have to agree. Frandsen at SS and #2 seems to be working as well. I think Frandsen > Hudson, and that’s not just the Angels’ fan talking.
#3 is where it gets interesting. Sullivan did well there today, and his bona fides suggest that it would be a good fit. However, he’s hitting only .208 on the young season. Since Ryno has been trying some other players in the cleanup (yeah!), I would still like to see Dweezy here. OK, if his .228 disqualifies him, then how about Moss or Belliard?
I like Larish at #4. I like him there a lot. Or, Moss. Even, Belliard. I’m sorry about all the bad things I said about Belliard prior to the season. It keeps my streak intact: 2009=Newhan, 2010=Bocock. I said bad things about them and they turned out to be decent ball players and good guys. I’m sorry. My bad. Please keep hitting the ball.
So #5 for Dweezy, then, or leave Belliard there, or Moss–the odd guy out of the #3 and #4 discussion gets #5 as a consolation.
#6 is interesting, as you can have a really good hitter here for the 3,4,5 discussion. Or, Sullivan. Or Miller. Nice spot and value over what other teams can have at #6 IMO.
If Frandsen gets the night off, then slide every one up a spot and put Hudson here at 7. Or, Barfield until he rises above the Mendoza. Bocock when he comes back?
#8’s gotta be the catcher. At least until Kratz’ bat comes alive (is it starting?). On a DH night you can put Barfield or Hudson at #9 to get the top set up.
Others’ thoughts on the lineup? Decal?
Okay, it was only April 17th but I caught myself scoreboard watching already. With the Ironpigs and Yankees both at 5-3 I couldn’t resist checking for updates on that Rochester/SWB game throughout the day. I have to make myself stop doing that or I’ll go crazy sometime during the next 135 games.
As long as we’re apologizing for pre-season comments I may as well apologize to Rich Thompson for saying he may have to start the year at Reading until the outfield situation plays out with the Ironpigs. I happened to pass by the autograph table on the concourse last week as he was leaving and we made eye contact. I’ve never had any previous encounters with him and I know he had no idea who I was but I couldn’t help but get the feeling he knew I was the guy who said he belonged in AA. So, I apologize to Rich Thompson partly out of guilt but mostly because he’s the best centerfielder and best leadoff hitter on this team. He’s also the only legitimate stolen base threat with the Ironpigs.
For those listening to Matt Provence on the radio on Sunday, did I hear him refer to Jeff Larish as “the statue”? I google searched it but could only find a 2009 comment from a reader on the website of “the batting stance guy”. He said Larish was like a statue in the batter’s box. And speaking of Larish, you have to check out this youtube video:
It includes highlights of the June 21, 2005 game when he hit 3 HR’s in one college world series game. What made it even more impressive was that Arizona State was trailing Nebraska 7-6 with 2 outs in the 9th inning when Larish hit homerun #3 to tie the score. ASU eventually won in 11 innings.
Has anyone else noticed that whenever Dane Sardinha gets a basehit the Ironpigs win? Okay, so he only has 2 hits this year, but it could be the beginning of a trend!
As for a batting order, I can’t find much fault in what Kram has but I always liked a lefty in the #2 hole when you have a base stealing threat like Thompson. I’d also try to avoid too many lefties in a row but it’s difficult to do with this roster. Also, the lineup could be adding guys like Bozied, Bocock and Brown in the near future so things may be changing.
It’s late and I’m starting to get a brain cramp. I better go to bed and get some sleep. There’s a doubleheader tomorrow ya’ know!
Que pasa “First Place”???
No comprende…
Completely off topic, but I was reading my season ticket paperwork that came with my tickets and it mentioned the Batting practice viewing party again. It said we would find out our date the last week of March, or maybe it was the first week of April. I forget. Either way, this has passed.
Has anyone with full season tickets gotten their dates yet?
I’ve heard a few have received them but I haven’t. I actually didn’t get them at all last year .. I would give them a call sooner rather than later.
I think Decal got his Thursday last week and I got mine Saturday. My games are later than his (we each got two dates; mine are June 10 and July 29). Perhaps yours are on the way and they are later. Watch the mail at your IronPigs mailing address.
But, it doesn’t hurt to call. If you know your ticket rep by name, I would suggest calling him/her directly. Or ask at the game tonight if you see him/her.
First place?
What’s that?..Seriously…English is not my first language, you will understand — and “First Place” is NOT listed in my trustworthy IronPigs German-English/English-German Woerterbuch.
I tried to get “IronPigs First Place” translated online, and the only answer I can seem to get is “DOES NOT COMPUTE”…
…So I asked my boss what “First Place” means and he asked why. After I told him the IronPigs are now in first place for their International League division, he told me don’t be silly…
…and to report to Human Resources for an immediate drug-screening test!
Gibt es jemand, dass mir helfen kann?
Human Resources is now acknowledging that I did not test positive for drugs.
With respect to the IronPigs being in first place, however, Human Resouces continues to maintain that I am, indeed, halucinating!
I say — bring on the in-state, arch-rival!!!