With Larry Holmes in the house, it was Tyler Cloyd with the knock-out punch tossing 6 brilliant perfect innings and leading the IronPigs to not only their first one-hitter in team history but also the 3 run home opening shut-out win against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
The No No NO was spoiled on a slap to left center off the bat of SWB Raymond Kruml (CF) tossed by IronPigs Phillippe Aumont. Speedy Richie T (Richard Thompson) ranged far to his right and nearly made the grab having the ball bound off the edge of his mitt. This resulted in the only hit for SWB on this crisp night in the Lehigh Valley.
The 24 year old, Nebraska born Cloyd was scheduled to start Reading’s Home Opener but with Dave Bush’s 5 game suspension he was given the start for Lehigh Valley in a late call-up. Tyler was drafted by the Phillies in the 18th
Tyler Cloyd - Perfect through 6 (Photo courtesy of Cheryl Pursell) (click to enlarge)
round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft and has steadily worked his way through the system. Last season he split time between Clearwater and Reading going 9-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 31 appearances with 138 SO and only 22 BB.
Hey kids, want to make people take notice? Here’s how: On less than 24 hours notice make your unexpected AAA debut on opening day at the best park in all of Minor League Baseball. Then have Hall of Fame Coach Ryne Sandberg grin his way to the mound and utter “Son I’d love to let you complete a perfect game but you’ve reached your pitch count limit – sorry. Great job!”
How do you like that ‘Cloydhusker’?
Aumont was responsible for the lone SWB hit on a ball that IronPigs’ Radio Matt Provence observed Rich Thompson would catch 9 out of 10 times. Jake Diekman pitched a scoreless 8th and Michael Schwimer earned his first Save of the season with a quick 9th. Tyler Cloyd was credited with the well deserved win.
Another Phillies Pharm product Derrick Mitchell added some outstanding play in right field snaring a foul ball over the rail and another great play up the wall in right field late in the game.
Offensively, the IronPigs mustered only 3 hits (Kratz-2 & Luna-1) with Rich Thompson recording the only RBI on a bases loaded free pass.
Holy Kratz - Erik went 2-3 (photo courtesy of Cheryl Pursell) (click to enlarge)
The Pigs left 5 on base and went 0-6 with runners in scoring position. In 2011, the IronPigs were ranked last with RISP with a .232 average – yet they still find ways to put up the W’s.
Pitching and defense were the key to the first win of 2012 and we’ll take it!
Tomorrow’s scheduled starters are new IronPig Austin Hyatt (another Reading product) and Yankees top prospect Dellin Betances for SWB.
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Pig OUT!
DiPro’s Dish
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