Can you name this former IronPig?
“…you have to go through 25 different hand shakes with all your teammates, mascots are running around with their hands waving in the air, and your throwing stuffed animals into the crowd.”
Email all guesses to jasondipro@lvnoisenation.com
🙂
Filed under DiPro's Dish, Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Last night was a great night for baseball. Temps well above 70 degrees, partly sunny skies and a wind that was barely noticeable in the stands.
A beautiful night for baseball – View from Kram’s Klub Level seats.
Also ran into some new friends and old friends:
Ran into Utility Man Ben and former IronPig staffer Alicia!
Utility Man Ben had all the best of baseball. Dressed in a vendor’s outfit with hot dog hat and all, he carried real cotton candy and footlong hotdogs!
Always good to see old friends at the park too!
In the boredom that comes from a low offensive night I noticed PawSox player Bryce Brentz, Graham Godfrey and Chris Carpenter…
Reminded me of this:
*****
Dropped third strike. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Not even sure what this is about. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Wild pitch. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
The only IronPig run, scored on a wild pitch. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
It is fun to watch a knuckleball. Not fun to watch your team lose. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Is it bad that 3 of 5 highlight photos deal with Wild pitches? Pig’s look to get rolling again tonight before heading on their first road trip.
*****
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OinK!
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
My apologies for getting this out so late tonight. Took in the game in person thanks to a ticket from Kram.
We were treated to seeing a knuckleballer at CCP tonight and unfortunately, we saw him shut down the Pig’s bats.
Cesar Hernandez has 2 hits. Pete Orr and Darin Ruf each belted one out to sum up the Pig’s offensive production.
Their lone run was the result of a walk, a near passed ball delayed steal, a groundout moving the runner to third and then another passed ball.
Passed ball and wild pitch seemed to plague the PawSox this series. You’d expect this from a knuckleball but even yesterday the catcher was running around trying to keep a grasp on those third strikes.
Tyler Cloyd, now 0-2 on the season, went 5 innings allowing 5 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 6.
DeFratus and Savery each pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game for the Pigs.
Final Score PawSox 5 – IronPigs 1
Don’t forget to vote for the Noise Nation in the Morning Call’s My Choice Voice Best Blogs contest! We are nominated in the Entertainment, Misfits and Sports categories. You can vote for all three categories every day until April 22nd. Help us become the Best Blog in the Lehigh Valley! Vote by clicking here.
OinK!
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Some notes following last night’s game:
• It was really good to see the bats come alive. Baseball is so much about mental–and confidence. I didn’t want to see these young guys struggle so much that they started to questions their abilities.
• I’ve seen Rosenberg look a lot better, so I’m not sure what to make of his outing. I didn’t think the velocity was there last night, but I wasn’t watching closely enough to say for sure.
• Only 3k in Scranton last night, but that’s a sign that they’ve got to expand their season ticket base and sell groups more aggressively–that demand then will carry over to weeknights in April. Otherwise it’s a tough sell even with the nice weather last night: NCAA championship on TV, school night, tough to make it on walk-up. 3k still respectable though.
• Another tough start by a starter–only Morgan effective the first time through. But, the ‘pen came around last night as they held it down. Friend pitched three innings, which usually isn’t his thing, but he had a quick one or two and Brundage let him go because he knew he needed to get the innings from somewhere.
• Last night could be the sign that it’s all coming together, or it could be an aberration and we’re still in for a long season. Still tough to tell.
• Castro is every bit the player that I hoped Gillies was. Hitting, running, fielding, that guy is playing his way back into prospect-ville. Just can’t sit him at this point.
• And don’t sleep on JMitch. This guy is a slightly older with more power version of Castro. Speed, hustle, defense. Some had him pegged as this year’s Montanez, Miller, or Thurston. I don’t think so. That cat can play, and the former top-ten prospect in the A’s system may well earn a trip to the majors if he can get on the field and stay healthy. He does not have an opt out.
Jorge Valendia in the house with Uncle Marty! Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Air Ferrous on the attack! Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Asche takes one to the foot. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Darin Ruf made his first appearance at 1st base. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Justin Friend went 3 scoreless innings in relief. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Ruf scoring. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Keeping the Left, Right, Left tradition alive! Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Mike Stutes had a good outing tonight! Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Brundage’s left arm was busy last night! Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Cody Asche adds another double. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Castro snags a line drive saving 2 runs. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Overbeck’s HR. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Orr’s attempt at on field yoga. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
BJ Rosenberg went 3 innings in his start. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Hit the Ball, Score Runs, Celebrate! Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Don’t forget to vote for the Noise Nation in the Morning Call’s My Choice Voice Best Blogs contest! We are nominated in the Entertainment, Misfits and Sports categories. You can vote for all three categories every day until April 22nd. Help us become the Best Blog in the Lehigh Valley! Vote by clicking here.
OinK!
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Someone turned up the thermostat and tonight’s game started out at around 75 degrees. What a change since the opening series vs. Syracuse.
But.. the opponents bats stayed hot as evident when Pawsox lead off hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker took BJ Rosenberg deep putting Pawtucket up 1-0. A couple hits and outs later Bryce Brentz hit a 2 run homer in currently windy Coca Cola Park.
The Pigs got one back in the bottom of the inning on a Cody Asche solo HR, the first for the IronPigs this season.
Cody Asche HR! Photo – Cheryl Pursell
In the top of the second Pawtucket added 2 more runs taking the game to 5-1.
But.. Cody Overbeck smashed a HR into the Bullpen to close the gap a bit at 5-2.
Asche came through again in the 3rd belting a 2 run double to bring the Pigs with 1 run! He was pushed home by a Darin Ruf off the top of the wall double! Tie game!
Joseph hit an 0-2 pitch to drive in Ruf and allow the Pigs their first lead of the game!
Both starting pitchers did not reach the 4th inning.
Pawtucket’s Rubby De La Rosa was pulled mid-3rd inning allowing 5 runs on 4 hits and a single walk.
BJ Rosenberg completed the 3rd allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 3 tossing 81 pitches for 44 strikes. (yikes)
Justin Friend came in to open the 4th and helped along the IronPig’s 2 inning shutout streak.
Hernandez belted out his 10th hit of the season with an RBI single putting the Pigs ahead 7-5.
A wild pitch made it 8-5!
Another run in on a Cody Overbeck hit making it 9-5!
In the 5th Jermaine Mitchell socked a ground rule double scoring Leandro Castro who singled and stole 2nd base. IronPigs up 10-5.
That was it for Pawtucket pitcher Graham Godfrey. Godfrey lasted 1.2 innings allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and one walk.
In came Chris Carpenter. Who loaded the bases with an inherited runner, a walk and a hit by pitch on hot hitting Asche. That ball doesn’t hit Cody and Mitchell scores easily.
Carpenter got out of trouble ending the inning with a fly out from Darin Ruf.
At this point, IronPig Radio legend Matt Provence pointed out that the Pigs had scored in every inning so far with one of his best lines yet, “With a run in each innin’ the Pigs are a winnin!”
Classic stuff!
Friend’s night was over after the 6th, tossing 3 innings of scoreless baseball allowing 2 hits, 2 walks and striking out 4. 46 pitches for 27 strikes.
The Pigs didn’t score in the 6th. 3 up and 3 down… well kinda. Castro singled but was caught stealing.
Congrats to our friend Bob for winning the trivia contest tonight! He knew it was former IronPig Brandon Duckworth who tied for the most wins for a Pawtucket pitcher last season! My guess was Nelson Figueroa who did have 12 wins but did not pitch the entire season for the Pawsox.
Mike Stutes took over to pitch the 7th for the Pigs. He walked 2 but shut the Pawsox down providing the season’s longest scoreless innings streak of the season so far at 5 innings.
To start the bottom of the 7th, IronPig resident speedster Jermaine Mitchell hustled around the bases and turned a standard base hit into a double!
Mitchell moved to third when Pete Orr reached after a dropped third strike. (The 2nd of the night against Pawtucket)
Pawsox Catcher Ryan Lavarnway then allowed another passed ball with Mitchell scoring.
Tyson Gillies struck out on another ball in the dirt but Lavarnway successfully made the throw to first. Carpenter was then pulled after allowing 1 run on 2 hits in 2.1 innings.
Pawsox reliever Alex Wilson came on to get a quick out moving the game to the 8th.
Stutes shut down Pawtucket 1-2-3 in the top half of the 8th.
Starting off the 8th was Cody Overbeck with a single then Tommy Joseph hit the first AAA home run of his career bringing the Pig’s lead to 14-5 and also signaled the end of Alex Wilson’s night on the mound. Wilson leaves after pitching .2 innings allowing 3 runs on 3 hits.
Replacing Wilson was former IronPig (2010) Oscar Villareal.
Villareal closed out the rest of the inning with no score.
Jake Diekman came in to close out the ninth.
Final line for Stutes: 2 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits with 2 walks and two strikeouts.
Diekman delivered. Pigs win!
Final Score: Pawtucket 5 – Lehigh Valley – 14
Tonight should have an impact on the rest of this 3 game series. The Pawsox burned through 4 relievers. Let’s hope the Pigs keep rolling.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s combined post in the “Morning After”
Don’t forget to vote for the Noise Nation in the Morning Call’s My Choice Voice Best Blogs contest! We are nominated in the Entertainment, Misfits and Sports categories. You can vote for all three categories every day until April 22nd. Help us become the Best Blog in the Lehigh Valley! Vote by clicking here.
OinK!
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Recorded via SoundCloud with the help of Decal’s preview and Matt’s Game Notes:
(let’s see how this works)
oh, and remember to VOTE!
I was happily surprised when I got to CCP yesterday and was handed a copy of “Precious Pets Pet Owners Guide” and saw that the cover was a photo of myself and my crazy weimaraner Blitzen.
From last year’s IronPig Dog Day!
The day was perfect for dog day and many showed!
Dr. Melvin of Dr. Karen’s Critter Care enjoying the sunny day!
I always love dog day… but back to baseball.
*****
A few notes:
Expect bullpen to improve. Even if some end up in Philly.
Pawtucket comes in undefeated having swept RailRiders but I’m still happy to see Syracuse leave
I’ve missed a lot of Sunday games over the years but it was nice to take in some daytime baseball yesterday. A little warmer than the previous three nights.
Standard warnings about rain today. They’ll open the doors. Forecast calls for 50% chance of rain in the evening. The price we pay for warmer weather in April. Those May flowers need water, etc. etc.
Ethan Martin – Still Kram’s Choice For Best Hair. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Castro getting the Pigs on the board. Photo – Cheryl Pursell
Joseph throws out his first baserunner of the season! Photo – Cheryl Pursell
*****
Pigs are home until Wednesday then head out for their first road trip! Stay tuned to The Horn & Bell for team and game updates!
OinK!
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
What a great day! The sun was shining, the sky clear and a cool breeze coming through at the Coke. It was also dog day! (More on dog day in The Morning After column tomorrow)
The Pigs got on the board early and often. Scoring in the first with a Castro double, a walk, runners moved up on a flyball out then a Sacrifice fly by Darin Ruf put the Pigs ahead 1-0 early.
In the second, the Pigs used 4 singles and 2 groundouts to push the score to 3-0.
Syracuse struck back in the third topped off with a Corey Brown HR.
Not to be outdone, the Pigs tied it up in the bottom half of the third using a Walk and a Cody Asche double with some ground outs to level the field at 4. They added 2 more in the 5th to go ahead 6-4.
The Chiefs pushed back again scoring two in the top of the 8th with a Zach Walters 2 run HR.
Breaking the tie, Syracuse swiped another 2 runs when Corey Brown hit another 2 run HR putting the Chiefs up 8-6 in the top of the ninth.
For the IronPig Pitching staff:
IronPig starter Ethan Martin went 4.1 innings allowing 4 earned runs on 3 hits. He walked 4 and struck out 3.
Cesar Jimenez took over for Martin pitching 2 scoreless innings allowing no runs on 2 hit collecting 3 strikeouts and no free passes.
Zach Miner came in for the 8th and allowed Syracuse back in the game with 2 hits and a walk allowed including Walter’s two run shot. He stayed in for the ninth allowing the 2 run Brown homer and takes home the loss.
(So many blown saves so early in the season… does anyone have Gary Majewski’s cell number?)
Final Score: Chiefs 8 – IronPigs 6
The bullpen, slightly depleted from the extra inning game last night, continues to struggle. The bats, though, seem to have woken up with 12 IronPig hits this afternoon! Also, Joseph threw out his first base stealer of the year in the 8th!
The Chiefs leave the Lehigh Valley winning 3 of the 4 game set. Stat of the series is Syracuse Home runs = 8, IronPig Home runs = 0.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s combined comment post in the “Morning After”
Don’t forget to vote for the Noise Nation in the Morning Call’s My Choice Voice Best Blogs contest! We are nominated in the Entertainment, Misfits and Sports categories. You can vote for all three categories every day until April 22nd. Help us become the Best Blog in the Lehigh Valley! Vote by clicking here.
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The IronPigs got their first big win last night in walk-off fashion. Â Here are some observations from around the park:
..
BASEBALL:
(c) Cheryl Pursell
Darin Ruf
(c) Cheryl Pursell
AROUND THE PARK
THERE HE IS!
IN PICTURES
(As always, major thanks to Cheryl…)
Hernandez with an early game triple
(c) Cheryl Pursell
Cody Asche at the plate
(c) Cheryl Pursell
GREAT shot of Castro’s infield double. THAT is why you hustle!
(c) Cheryl Pursell
Stutes, in relief
(c) Cheryl Pursell
Savery gets the win!
(c) Cheryl Pursell
And, the walk off. One of my favorite sights to see at Coca Cola Park!
(c) Cheryl Pursell
See you at the park,
@Kram209
The Pigs got on the board early turning a Cesar Hernandez triple and a Cody Asche ground out into a first inning run!
Syracuse struck back in the 3rd on a Jeff Kobernus 2 run HR.
The Pigs took their first lead of the season in the 7th when a few hits and a Syracuse error gave the Pigs a 3-2 lead.
The hot hitting Chiefs came back in the 8th to tie the game at 3.
The Pigs luck turned in the 8th when Leandro Castro hit a 5 foot double. That’s right, 5 feet. It landed between the pitcher and catcher just feet from home plate. Castro’s hustle paid off when Michael Martinez’s single rocketed up the middle for the go ahead run.
IronPig starter Adam Morgan had a solid start. Morgan went 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, those 2 runs coming from the Kobernus HR.
Mike Stutes pitched a scoreless, hitless inning recording one strikeout.
Jake Diekman pitched 1 inning allowing 1 run (tying run) on two hits.
Justin DeFratus came in to close out the ninth. The Pig’s luck turned when Micah Owings beat out an infield single and Zach Walters chopped the ball back to DeFratus who looked to second and no one was covering. Then Carlos Maldonado bunted right back to DeFratus who bobbled allowing the bases to load.
As Pig’s Radio Matt Provence stated, “Oy Vey!”
DeFratus did yield the tying run on a double play but struck out Jimmy Van Ostrand to end the Chief’s rally.
The Pigs went down in the ninth and fans get a free cup of coffee and extra baseball!
Joe Savery took over the 10th, allowing a lead off single before ending the inning without a score.
No score in the 10th and Savery took out the Chiefs in the 11th.
The bottom of the eleventh brought on 3 walks to load the bases with one out.
Hernandez came up and belted out his 4th hit of the night giving the Pigs their first walk off win… err first win of the season!
OinK!
Final Score: Chiefs 4 – IronPigs 5
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s combined comment post in the “Morning After”
Don’t forget to vote for the Noise Nation in the Morning Call’s My Choice Voice Best Blogs contest! We are nominated in the Entertainment, Misfits and Sports categories. You can vote for all three categories every day until April 22nd. Help us become the Best Blog in the Lehigh Valley! Vote by clicking here.
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
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