The IronPigs left Syracuse wearing a 4 win 5 loss record and jumped right into the mix of it to start their series in Pawtucket. Pawtucket is leading the IL North division with an impressive 9 win 1 loss record.
The IronPigs got an early start in the second inning with Josh Field’s first IronPig home run!
Pawtucket added 3 for their cause in the 3rd inning, combining baserunners, hits and a Gillies error to clear the bases and take the lead.
The Pigs rallied in the top of the 8th. Cody Asche started off the inning with a walk, scoring on a Darin Ruf double. Ruf advanced to third on a passed ball only to tie the score on a gapper line drive double by Josh Fields! Cody Overbeck lined a single putting the Pigs at 1st and 3rd with no outs and a tie game. Tyson Gillies did his part walking to load the bases. Steve Lerud promptly struck out. Martinez singled scoring Ruf and Fields! IronPigs 5 – Pawsox 3.
Pawtucket then showed some glimpses of the early season IronPigs with a botched light grounder to second base and topped the play off by overthrowing first base allowing Gillies to score. Leandro Castro hit a screamer up the middle but a great play ended the inning.
10 batters up in 8th. 4 hits, 2 walks, 1 error and 5 runs. IronPigs 6 – Pawsox 3.
Starting off the top of the ninth, the Pigs started again with Ruf taking a base on balls. I then heard a voice somewhere out there say, “Josh, hit another home run for me” and Josh Fields smashed his 2nd HR of the season and the night to put the Pigs up 8 to 3!
Josh Fields went 4 for 4 with 2 home runs, 4 RBI and 1 walk. The advantage of getting the veteran in the lineup using the DH against American League affiliates.
Of note – I called the second Josh Field’s home run. Text to Kram209 as proof. Not as cool as “Kratz is going to crank one” in Scranton two years ago when Kratz brought home a win for the Pigs with a ninth inning HR, but real close.
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Starter Tyler Cloyd went 6 innings allowing 5 hits and 3 runs (2 earned). Tyler walked 4 and struck out 5.
Justin DeFratus pitched the 7th allowing only 1 hit.
Joe Savery pitched the bottom half of the 8th and set the Pawsox down in order. “Joe continues to mow” – Matt Provence @PigsRadio
Savery stayed in to close out the ninth.
Final Score: IronPigs 8 – Pawsox 3
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For a great Pawsox Point of view check out our friend over at Pawsox Heavy!
Of note – LHP Tom Cochran activated off the D.L. and assigned to Reading. I’m thinking this was an injured Valendia as he was immediately ready to come back after a Reading pitcher injured himself. Perhaps the first Injured Valendia of the year?
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