IronPigs outslug Chiefs for 8-6 win
Published on July 16, 2011 under International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (56-38) blasted three home runs in an 8-6 win over the Syracuse Chiefs (39-53), the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, Saturday at Alliance Bank Stadium. The Chiefs tallied two home runs of their own but it wasn't enough to rally past Lehigh Valley.
Syracuse fell behind early as righthander Brad Peacock struggled out of the gates in his first career Triple-A start. He gave up two doubles to the first two IronPigs he faced, and the Chiefs were quickly down 1-0. Peacock momentarily recovered to strikeout Delwyn Young, but a walk and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Back-to-back bombs from Erik Kratz and Tagg Bozied over the center field wall extended the early lead to 5-0 before Peacock finally got out of the first inning by retiring the next two batters.
The Chiefs quickly cut into the lead when Steve Lombardozzi hit his first home run in Syracuse to lead off the bottom of the frame. Matt Antonelli then ripped a double just inside the third base bag, but that would be the only Chiefs offense through the first four innings. IronPigs starter Ryan Feierabend retired the next 12 Syracuse batters in order to keep the game at 5-1 through four innings.
Lehigh Valley extended their lead in the top of the fifth and chased Peacock from the mound in the process. The pitcher gave up a one-out single and hit Kratz with a pitch before righthander Zech Zinicola took over. Peacock pitched four and a third innings in his first Triple-A start, giving up seven runs off six hits, walking two and striking out four.
Zinicola struck out Bozied for the second out of the inning, but Cody Overbeck blasted the IronPigs' third home run of the night in the next at-bat to put Lehigh Valley up 8-1.
The Chiefs, however, also added three runs in the fifth to keep within striking distance. Jhonatan Solano started the frame with a single and advanced to second on a Feierabend balk. After Jeff Frazier was hit by a pitch, Gregor Blanco just beat out a double play to put runners at the corners.
From there, the runs started coming in. Back-to-back RBI singles by Zinicola and Lombardozzi pulled the Chiefs within 8-3. An error by Lehigh Valley's Bozied loaded the bases and brought Jesus Valdez to the plate. Valdez nearly pulled Syracuse within one, but Brandon Moss caught his deep fly ball at the wall in left. The sacrifice fly did score Zinicola, though, to put the score at 8-4, but Feierabend put an end to the run with a strikeout of Chris Marrero.
After Zinicola and righty Jeff Mandel held the IronPigs scoreless through the next three innings, Solano cut into that deficit in the bottom of the eighth. Chris Marrero reached second to start the inning when Delwyn Young misplayed his line drive to right field. Solano then came up two batters later and blasted the Chiefs second home run of the game over Young's head to pull Syracuse within 8-6.
Mandel capped off a strong game from the Chiefs bullpen by holding the IronPigs scoreless in the top of the ninth. But Syracuse couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the frame as IronPigs righty Michael Schwimer retired the side in order to get the save.
Syracuse and Lehigh Valley battle again Sunday at 5:00 at Alliance Bank Stadium. Chiefs lefty Tommy Milone will make his first start since playing in the International League All-Star game against IronPigs righty Tyson Brummett.
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