To borrow a phrase from IronPigs broadcaster Matt Provence, John Suomi The Money (DH) rocked a home run to right field for what turned out to be the game winner. The rest of the ‘Pigs plated 6 runs on 8 hits to beat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees 6-5 at a frigid Coca-Cola Park.
DH John Suomi following his blast (Photo courtesy of Cheryl Pursell) (click to enlarge)
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees began the scoring early with a double to left by Steve Pearce (1B) followed up by an RBI single by former IronPig DH Jack Cust.
SWB took a 3 zip lead in the top of the third with a throwing error by Kevin Frandsen plating two again off the bat of Jack Cust.
The ‘Pigs would finally get on the board in the bottom of the third when Andres Blanco (SS) plated Tuffy Gosewisch (C) who reached on a fielders choice. Blanco would plate two on the evening and add some stellar field play. The wide ranging Blanco snared a ball behind 2nd base and snapped a throw to snare Brandon Laird (3B) who strayed a bit too far from 3rd base that surely saved a run and ended a SWB scoring rally.
The IronPigs would score 3 more in the bottom of the 6th when a double by Cody Overbeck (1B) scored Lou Montanez (RF) and Hector Luna (3B) who reached on back to back singles. The scoring rally ended early however on a base running error by Overbeck who while it appeared had an easy chance to make it back to 2nd was called out in a run-down.
SWB would score two more in the game but it was John Suomi’s 0-1 blast to the Bud Light Trough in right field that scored the last run of the evening and led to the 2nd victory in as many nights.
Craig and Annemarie Ritter of Whitehall pose with the first HR ball of 2012 (click to enlarge)
In fact, Suomi’s shot landed right into our own Noise Nation founder Dan Kehl’s seat in the Bud Light Trough while he was away. Craig and Annemarie Ritter of Whitehall were the lucky recipients of the first Home Run Ball at Coca-Cola Park in 2012.
The Pigs start 2-0 for the first time in their history and the last time a Philly AAA team began the season 2-0 was 20 years ago, ironically it was the SWB Red-Barons.
The spectacular week at Coca-Cola Park began with Monday’s Media Day, then Reading on Tuesday, Wednesday’s Red Carpet Premier of IronPigs Fan-tastic to Thursday’s opening day shut-out victory and ended loudly with the best Friday fireworks show yet.
Thursday’s perfect through 6 winner Tyler Cloyd may be in the running for IL Pitcher of the week and still end up back at AA Reading. How do you like that? So far there is great depth in the Minor League pen and the Phils should have no problem calling up some fine tossers – let’s just hope they don’t need to.
The ‘Pigs are on the bus North to Pawtucket for a 4 game series commencing with a double-header tomorrow at 4:05 pm.
Action returns to Coca-Cola Park on Wednesday the 11th at 7:05 pm when the Nationals 19 year old phenom Bryce Harper (.375) arrives with the Syracuse Chiefs for a 3 game series – it should be fun to watch!
Go Pigs!
DiPro’s Dish
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