IL1 Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Pigs Begin Three-Game Set with G-Braves

Published on July 17, 2017 under International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


The IronPigs (57-37) and Gwinnett Braves (47-45) begin a three-game series tonight at Coolray Field, first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Fresh off a split with Northern Division rival Rochester, the Pigs begin a seven-game Southern Division road trip beginning with a three-game series with the Gwinnett Braves - Atlanta's top affiliate. The Pigs took the season series 5-2 last season, sweeping the three-game series at Coca-Cola Park and splitting a four-game set at Coolray Field.

The G-Braves enter the series having just taken three of four games from the Charlotte Knights, having dropped last night's finale 5-4.

The Pigs will send RHP Tom Eshelman (7-2, 1.94) against Braves RHP Lucas Sims (6-4, 3.98).Today's starting pitching matchup is presented by Allentown Family Foot Care, which provides the latest in medical and surgical treatments of the entire foot and ankle. Learn more at affc.com.

RHP Tom Eshelman makes his 12th start for the Pigs this season. Eshelman last pitched two innings in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Tacoma, where he gave up just one hit on a home run. The right-hander last pitched for the Pigs on July 4 against the Syracuse Chiefs, picking up his seventh win of the season as he tossed seven scoreless innings.

RHP Lucas Sims makes his 18th start of the season for the G-Braves, having last pitched in the midsummer classic as well. Prior to the All-Star break, the right-hander last pitched for Gwinnett on July 6 against Norfolk. He took the loss as he surrendered three runs on seven hits in seven 1/3 innings.

Dylan Cozens launched his 22nd home run of the season, and Pedro Beato picked up his 26th save tying him with Scott Mathieson for most in a single-season. The Pigs (57-37) held on for a 4-3 victory over the Rochester Red Wings (51-41) by the score of 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park before 9,262 fans.

With the Pigs clinging to a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Manager Dusty Wathan summoned International League saves leader Pedro Beato from the Pig 'Pen. The first batter he saw in John Ryan Murphy sent a line drive to Scott Kingery for the first out of the inning. Beato then issued a walk on a full count to J.B. Shuck, before Mitch Garver flew out to center and Engelb Vielma grounded to Kingery to end the game.

The save for Beato was his 26th on the season, which ties him with Scott Mathieson for the most in a single-season in franchise history.

The Pigs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, as Kingery came around to score on a RBI triple by J.P. Crawford to right field to give the Pigs a 1-0 lead at the time. Rhys Hoskins then tallied his league-leading 68th RBI on a base hit to left, scoring Crawford to up the Pigs lead to 2-0 after three.

Pigs starter Brandon Leibrandt was dealing early, as the southpaw retired the first eight batters of the game before issuing a base hit to Vielma.

After the first two batters of the fourth inning reached on a walk and a fielder choice, Leibrandt struck out the side to eliminate the Red Wings threat and preserve the 2-0 lead.

Leibrandt issued his only run on the evening in the top of the fifth inning as he walked Murphy to lead off the frame. Murphy would then come around to score later in the inning on a Niko Goodrum RBI single to left field to bring the Red Wings within a run, as they trailed 2-1.

The Pigs answered back in the bottom half with authority, as Cozens launched his 22nd home run of the season, a two-run shot to right-center field plating himself and Hoskins who walked with one out in the inning. The 22nd home run for Cozens ties him for third place on the Pigs all-time single-season home run list with Andy Tracy, who hit 22 in 2008.

Yacksel Rios came on to pitch for the Pigs in the sixth and seventh innings, pitching a scoreless sixth. However, Murphy tagged a lead-off home run in the seventh as the Pigs held a 4-2 lead. Rios would then strikeout the side to prevent any further damage.

Edubray Ramos then came on to pitch the eighth inning for the Pigs, surrendering an unearned run as Matt Hague came around to score after a throwing error by J.P Crawford allowed him to reach. Hague would score on the very next play as Edgar Corcino sent a two-bagger to right field to trim the Pigs lead to 4-3. ByungHo Park would then walk, before a Tommy Field ground ball to third induced an inning ending twin killing.

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International League Stories from July 17, 2017


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