The Pigs tried tonight, they really did.
In a 14 inning effort, the Pigs fell to SWB at Coca Cola Park tonight.
The game looked well in hand with a 1-0 lead in the 9th and Justin DeFratus on the mound. DeFratus had Jorge Vasquez (The IL HR leader) with a 1-2 count. Two very very very close pitches were called balls by home plate umpire Karl Best and on a 3-2 count Vasquez hit a solo HR to tie the game. DeFratus struck out the next two batters and retired the last on a fly ball.
The Pigs threatened in the 13th but to no avail. In came Juan Perez who quickly showed why his record is now 0 and 5. He allowed back to back singles before Brandon Laird sent a souvenir into the Lawn seating. The Pigs loaded the bases in their half of the 14th but no one crossed home plate and we all headed home.
Tonight was a great opportunity for the Pigs to move ahead. Both Pawtucket and Gwinnett lost. With all three losing no ground was lost but time is getting short. With only 5 games remaining the Pigs are holding in a tie with Gwinnett for the wild card slot and 2 games behind Pawtucket for the IL North.
The Pigs need to win. Plain and simple. Sure they could get in with the other teams losing but who wants to see that? Not me.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
One thing that really gets my ire up is when officials or umpires affect the outcome of a contest.
While all of us “unemployed umpires” certainly thought those pitches and many others were strikes, I don’t believe Karl Best is to blame here. Neither is Juan Perez despite his less than stellar outings.
True the game would have been over with those two calls and the result may have been different if Perez didn’t give up the three run blast but….
… and this may be flogging the proverbial deceased equine but tonight the Pigs were 1 for 15 RISP and left 12 stranded.
Since Irene, the Pigs are 2 for 23 RISP with 24 LOB and 26 SO. All that resulted in 1 run in 28 innings – in the midst of a playoff race. If the Pigs were in the PGA we would have just won a Green Jacket!
While the season isn’t over quite yet as Dan has mentioned – Like sands through the hourglass so are the playoff hopes of our Pigs.
I’ll be waving my IronPigs cap during Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” at tomorrow’s Allentown Fair concert and checking my phone for updates frequently. I’ll be there with you all in spirit.
I’m not ready to right the final blog post of the season yet. At this point I’m choosing to keep the faith.
Go Pigs! Please?
The Phillies to get the Indianapolis Indians John Bowker ?
http://phollowingthephillies.blogspot.com/2011/08/phillies-trading-for-bat.html
And in return Schwim comes back (although technically, it might just be for 1 day)
I hate to say it, but I don’t think this Ironpigs team gets in. Just not enough pitching a timely hitting. Sandberg is a good guy, but I bet he can’t wait to be done with this year and get on with his MLB coaching career next year. There’s no way he’s not a least a bench coach next year.
Also.. according to a tweet from Mike LoRe… it’ll be Hector Noesi pitching Wednesday vs. Dave Bush, not DJ Mitchell.
Noesi (righty)(1-1, 3.92 minors)(2-0, 3.42 majors).
Noesi’s last minor league game – May 8 vs. Pawtucket.
Noesi’s last major league game – Aug. 28 vs. Baltimore (1 IP, 0 H, 1 K, 0 ER, 11 pitches, 8 strikes).
He hasn’t pitched more than 3 innings since Aug. 17. He was more like a reliever for NYY. Longest outing was vs. Pawtucket on May 8 – 7 IP.
I agree with you both Dan and DiPro. Can’t win if you don’t score runs and the Pigs certainly had chances!! You can also throw in that stat since Matt P. missed the bus!! LOL! But remember, ain’t nothin’s over til it’s over and last time I checked it ain’t over!! Keep the faith baby!! Don’t stop believin because once we’re in there ain’t no stoppin us now. I’ll be club levelin it tonight but will be with ya!! Yes DiPro as I was in spirit when I was at the beach, you’ll be with us in spirit as Journey plays “Don’t Stop Believin”!!
Cheer on little Piggies!!
Oink! Oink!!
In case you didn’t tell us, Sarge, if LV and Gwinnett end up tied for the wild card, who would host the one-game playoff on the 6th?
It would be here. The Pigs won the season series vs Gwinnett this year.