Photo Credit: via nateswartphoto's Flickr
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have come one step closer to “bringing home the bacon.” Tonight, under clear skies in Pawtucket, RI the Pigs swept their first every playoff series, and advance to the Governor’s Cup Finals, another first in franchise history.
They did this by riding behind another gem tossed by the 215lb right-handed Brian Bass. Bass went 8 scoreless innings, while throwing a five hitter, to secure the Pigs sweep. The Paw-Sox only run came in the bottom of the 9th, when Hector Luna reached first on a single, then advanced to second on a throwing error. Luna then stole third and was batted in by a sacrifice fly from Will Middlebrooks.
The first of the Pigs three runs came after their leadoff hitter, Rich Thompson reached on a single, stole second, and was advanced to third and home on two ground outs. Josh Barfield homered in the 2nd to left field to make it 2-0 Pigs. Things quieted down then for what seemed like it would be a pitchers duel, with the Paw-Sox starter, right-hander Alex Wilson, only giving up the single to Thompson and the homerun to Barfield until the 6th inning when Thompson doubled, was advanced to third by left fielder Scott Podsednik, and scored on a fielder’s choice by Kevin Frandsen.
With the score 3-0 going into the top of the 8th, Wilson was replaced by southpaw Trever Miller. Miller went on to throw two perfect innings, but that wasn’t enough.
The Sox tried to mount a rally in the bottom of the 9th with Luna scoring, but that was all they’d muster as Bass got Luis Exposito to ground out, and Jose Iglesias to fly out to Thompson.
The championship finals will be as follows, according to Jeff Schuler of The Morning Call.
Games one and two of the finals are scheduled for Columbus’ Huntington Park on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Games three and, if necessary, four and five will be at Coca-Cola Park next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. — Jeff Schuler, The Morning Call.
The IronPigs are dead-set on making PigsFly this postseason, something fans of the team since the franchise came to Allentown thought would never happen. Go Pigs!
