SWB Yankees Forced to Wait another Day for IL North Title

August 29, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees News Release


Allentown, PA - Lehigh Valley (73-66) had hit an International League low 79 homers on the season heading into the first game of a two game home series for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (81-58). The Iron Pigs hit a pair of homers off SWB pitching and kept their playoffs hopes alive with a 5-2 win over the Yankees on Wednesday night. The Lehigh Valley win keeps Scranton/Wilkes-Barre clinching the International League's North Division title as their "magic number" remains at one.

Pete Orr's fourth home run of the season in the top of the second inning got the Iron Pigs on the scoreboard for a 1-0 advantage. Orr lined a shot over the 17 foot high wall on right field off SWB starter Mike O'Connor with one out in the inning.

The Yankees had a quick answer for the Lehigh Valley run in the top half of the inning with two of their own off Pigs starter Scott Elarton (WP, 6-11). SWB picked up a pair of two out runs on an RBI double from Cole Garner that scored Francisco Cervelli all the way from first tying the game at 1-1. Cervelli picked up the first hit of the night for the Yankees on a one out single. Ramiro Pena gave the Yankees the lead with a single to right field scoring Garner ahead of the throw of Nate Schierholtz for a 2-1 SWB lead.

The long ball came into play again for the Iron Pigs in the top of the sixth inning as they grabbed the lead for good at 3-2. O'Connor walked leadoff man Derek Mitchell to open the inning. After a pair of fielder's choice ground outs Lehigh Valley had Jason Pridie at first base with two out. Manager Dave Miley went to the bullpen replacing O'Connor with right hander Kevin Perez (LP, 1-1). Perez gave up a two run homer to the first batter he faced Cody Overbeck giving the Iron Pigs the lead for good.

O'Connor went from potential winning pitcher to no decision with the two run sixth inning. The left hander went 5.2 innings allowing four hits and two runs (both earned) with one walk and two strikeouts.

Lehigh Valley added two more runs off Perez in the top of the seventh on an RBI singles from Andres Blanco and Schierholtz to push the lead to 5-2. The Schierholtz hit was allowed by Juan Cedeno who allowed one of the two inherited runners left by Perez to score.

The Iron Pigs bullpen turned in 4.0 scoreless innings to keep the Pigs hopes in the IL Wild Card alive. Lehigh Valley trails Pawtucket by 1.5 games with five to play.

The Yankees and Iron Pigs wrap up the two game series Thursday night with a 7:05 PM first pitch. Right hander John Maine (7-5, 5.45 ERA) gets the start for SWB while Lehigh Valley has yet to announce a starting pitcher in the final game of the series.



International League Stories from August 29, 2012


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