The Ironpigs took the lead early on home runs by Jeff Larish and Brandon Moss Hogg and let the pitchers take over.

Ryan Feierabend was on tonight going 6 innings only allowing 2 hits and no runs striking out 5.

Perez got a hold and Mathieson closed out the game for a 2 inning save.

The Pigs now hold a 33 and 20 record and improve their road record to 17 and 7.

The Pigs will travel to Charlotte tomorrow with a 7:15pm start.

On a side note, word on the street is that Martinez will be offered back to the Nationals when Victorino is activated.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/ironpigs/index.ssf/2011/06/lehigh_valley_ironpigs_blogger_1.html

Per Matt Provence:

IronPigs transactions today: LHP Les Walrond promoted to LHV from Reading. RHP Eddie Bonine placed on D.L. (rt elbow strain) retro to 6/1.

The below is fictional. It is not a true story. Just for your entertainment.

Setting – Cola Coca Park, 3:00pm

Larry – “OK, you guys know the deal right?”

Crunchy Pork Rind – “The deal? We run to win right?”

Dig Dug Dog – “Sure is hot out today…”

Red Eyed Gravy – “Why do I get the heaviest costume?”

Larry – “Yeah, you know… you do know how this works right?”

(Blank looks from the other three)

Larry – “Dig Dug Dog will win the race today. No exceptions! Understand?!”

Crunchy Pork Rind – (under his breath) “We’ll see about that….”

Larry – “Guys! This needs to happen this way! It’s scripted!”

Red Eyed Gravy – “What, like the pro wrestling?”

Larry – “Do you want to do this or not?”

All 3 in unison – “Yes, Larry…”

*** Larry leaves the room***

Crunchy Pork Rind – “Man, I really want to win this”

Red Eyed Gravy – “I’d be happy not to pass out”

Dig Dug Dog – “Yeah man, Crunchy.. you’re going to win”

Crunchy Pork Rind – “You guys sure?”

Red Eyed Gravy – “It’s cool man, we’re just having fun. What does it matter who wins?”

***The race is run and Crunchy Pork Rind comes in first***

Larry – “OK! What happened!!! I thought it was clear that Dig Dug Dog was going to win!”

(uncomfortable silence)

Dig Dug Dog – “Hey, it’s ok if I didn’t win… it was all in fun. The crowd cheered, the kids loved it!”

Larry – “IT’S NOT OK!!! IT WAS SCRIPTED FOR DIG DU…. ok ok… we just won’t include it in the final standings, that’s all. The race will not count!”

Crunchy Pork Rind – “There are standings?”

Red Eyed Gravy – “Standings that matter?”

Dig Dug Dog – “Really? This is taken THIS seriously?”

Crunchy Pork Rind – “I guess so….”

Again, this is not true. I just made it up…. Enjoy!

The Pigs got off to an early start and continued deep into the game scoring 8 runs by the 6th inning tonight against the Gwinnett Braves!

Belliard sent a 3 run HR out and Kratz followed it with his own a couple pitches later.

Kratz finished 3 for 5 with 1 RBI and 3 runs scored.

The real story of the game is pitcher Brian Gordon. Gordon threw 7 innings allowing only 2 hits and no runs on 67 pitches.

If you do the math, 11 strike outs alone equals 33 pitches. (Not saying there wasn’t a few balls mixed in) That leaves 34 pitches for the other 10 outs. An incredible performance by Gordon who became 4-0 on the season. Gordon also went 2 for 4 batting!

Schwimer came on to finish the game, adding 3 more strikeouts.

The Pigs look to take the series win tomorrow at 7:00pm against the Braves and we will again be holding a Live Chat to stay up to date and enjoy the away game together as die hard fans! Stay tuned for a link.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/ironpigs/index.ssf/2011/06/lehigh_valley_ironpigs_blogger_1.html

Missing the Ironpigs? Join us for a live chat tonight and get together with other fans while listening to the radio broadcast!

The 2011 Ironpigs are now 31 and 20, 3 games ahead of SWB for first place in the International League North division… 16-13 at home and 15-7 away.

This year certainly is different from the first 3 years. They are Winning! I know right? Winning baseball here in the Lehigh Valley!

Why is that though? Better players? Better coaching? The luck finally came around?

Well get ready for my opinion.

While I feel Ryne Sandberg is the reason for all these wins, I don’t feel he is completely to thank for this great season so far. Sure, a great coach will push players, get more out of them. A Force Multiplier. Make an average performer play better just by his presence. Nice idea but not all of it. I really feel that the Phillies organization wants this team to succeed for a few reasons.

The first and foremost reason is to groom Ryne Sandberg as Charlie Manuel’s replacement. I know, Charlie Charlie Charlie, we all love him.. but I am giving my thoughts of how the management is thinking. (How many times has this group said one thing and the next day does the opposite?) They are giving Sandberg a test drive to see if he can field a winning team. As a part of this, they gave him the tools he needed to accomplish this. Look at the guys they signed and keep signing. Larish, Moss, Posednik, Orr, Kratz… along with a young and talented bullpen. The starters have easily been the weakest link this season and even they have come around nicely.

What makes this team different from the past is there is no noticeable influence from above. How many times did we see Huppert make a move and shake our heads wondering what he was thinking, then the next day find out it was directed by a Phillie’s representative. We haven’t seen a pitcher (other than the Feierabend night) sit out there and get shelled, in respect to Feierabend the bullpen had been burnt out the day before. When a situtation called for a pinch hitter a pinch hitter went in. This team is being run to win baseball not develop players. Other teams go by this. (SWB Yankees for one, player development happens at AA)

Another part of it is that the Phillies as a whole are getting older. I’m not saying they should be retiring anytime soon (well Ibanez) but the Phillie’s roster in 5 years will have a lot of new faces and several could be those wearing Ironpig uniforms. Allowing these players to experience winning baseball gets them ready for the pressure and expectations that will multiply 10 fold once they get to Citizen’s Bank Park.

And lastly, and least important, this winning team is thanks to the dedicated fan base. I acknowledge this is a weak point, do the execs really care how us fans feel? Doubt it. But they care about our money so they want to at least think about us for a moment. We’ve suffered through 3 years of terrible play since the beginning and deserve to see quality baseball.

So really, is this winning all about Sandberg? You could say that. Is it his mere presence causing the winning…. nah. The Phillies put this plan together to get him ready and if the season so far is any indication, Amaro and his friends will bite off the end of a cigar and say, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

Your thoughts?

Brian Bass allowed 5 runs to cross the plate between the first and second innings and that’s all Gwinnett needed to take down the Pigs by a final score of 2 to 7.

Bass didn’t seem like himself and it looked as if he didn’t get what he wanted from Home plate umpire Bultron. Three calls were argued by Ironpigs over the night but still, they didn’t get the runners on nor the hits to bring in the runs.

Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. I’m happier when they win.

It’s a hot day out there.. stay inside, enjoy some air conditioning (if you have it) and chat with Ironpig fans live tonight compliments of LehighValleyLive.com!

The chat starts at 7:00pm.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/ironpigs/index.ssf/2011/05/lehigh_valley_ironpigs_continu_3.html

See you there!

The Ironpigs took down a highly touted prospect tonight defeating Julio Teheran and the Gwinnett Braves 12 to 2 in tonight’s Memorial Day game in Gwinnett.

Surprisingly enough, Barfield’s 4 for 5 night didn’t make him the star of the game. Jeff Larish went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, a triple and 2 home runs amassing 7 RBI. He was also intentionally walked and had 11 total bases for towards the win!

Shoeless Eddie Bonine also had a decent showing. Tossing 68 pitches (43 for strikes) Bonine went 4 strong innings allowing only 4 hits and 1 run, striking out 6. Looks like Eddie is coming around. Drew Carpenter also had a strong night going 3 innings allowing 3 hits, 1 run and also struck out 6. Chapman closed out the final two innings of the game.

The big news is the Phillies announcing that Vance Worley will be coming back to the Pigs, for now. I haven’t seen any decision on who goes up to the Phillies but heard rumors of a pitcher heading up for the time being. Best guess would be Mathieson or Zagurski but don’t be surprised if it’s Carpenter.

Keeping it short for now. I’m sunburnt and tired after a long weekend and do need to be at work by 5:30am tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will get back to our Live Chats to get us fans together to follow the game via radio and talk amongst ourselves. Stay tuned for a link.