|
IRONPIGS LOSING STREAK REACHES 11
|
|
Canizares' Blast Fuels Braves Sixth Straight Victory
|
| The season-opening struggles continue for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs who dropped a 6-2 decision in a Sunday afternoon tilt with the Richmond Braves from Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs got two doubles and a pair of RBIs from utility infielder Gookie Dawkins but it was not enough to prevent Lehigh Valley from losing their 11th straight game to start the 2008 season. |
| Richmond 1B Barbaro Canizares continued his assault on IronPigs pitching with his first-inning two-run homer that gave the Braves the early 2-0 advantage. Canizares, one of three Cuban-born players on the Richmond roster, has homered in each of the last two games vs. the Ironpigs and is hitting .400 (4-for-10) with three runs scored and four RBIs in the series. |
| Lehigh Valley tied the game in the sixth inning on a Dawkins’ bases loaded two-bagger that scored Mike Cervenak and Val Pascucci. That double was the IronPigs’ first hit with the bases loaded this season. Lehigh Valley is currently hitting .100 (1-for-10) with the sacks packed this year. |
| Dawkins, who was acquired by the Phillies in a trade with Seattle last August, had been used sparingly in Dave Huppert’s lineup accumulating 10 at-bats through the first 10 games. After this afternoon’s game, Dawkins is now tied for the team lead in both doubles (2) and RBI (2). |
| Richmond would quickly respond with a single run in the seventh on an RBI single by 3B Wes Timmons who finished 2-for-4 for the IL South Division leaders. Of the 11 previous innings in which the IronPigs scored, this was the sixth time they gave those runs back in the very next inning. |
|
The Braves would tack on three more run against Lehigh Valley reliever Steve Green who allowed four hits and a sacrifice fly in his one inning of work. His outing was exacerbated by an throwing error by LF Brandon Watson who hit Richmond base runner Joe Borchard with an errant throw that led to the first run. The Braves finished with eight hits after only recording one (the Canizares homer) through the first 5.2 innings against Lehigh Valley starter J.A. Happ and reliever John Ennis. Happ took a no-decision after striking out nine but walking five in addition to the allowing two earned runs. Ennis (0-1) suffered the allowing the go-ahead run on three hits over two frames. RHP Kevin Beirne (IP, K) also saw action for the IronPigs.
|
| Despite the struggles in the bullpen on Sunday, the IronPigs Achilles’ heel remains the offense that left 12 more men on base and struck out 13 times against four Richmond pitchers. Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes fanned eight while only walking one in four innings against Lehigh Valley. The IronPigs have scored just 16 runs and are hitting a collective .186 through the first 11 games of the season. |
| In Monday’s finale, Ron Chiavacci (0-0, 0.79) will make his third start of the year and first appearance at Coca-Cola Park since his impressive start against Philadelphia in the March 30 exhibition game. The Scranton native is currently ranked seventh in the IL in ERA and won 12 games last season with the Toledo Mud Hens. He will be opposed by Richmond RHP Buddy Carlyle (0-0, 7.04) who will be looking to win their seventh game in a row. |
| Make sure to pick up a copy of Sunday’s Morning Call to receive the first IronPigs photo insuert featuring the IronPigs mascot, Ferrous. Bring the collector’s insert to Monday’s 7:05 p.m. contest for a pre-game autograph session with select IronPigs players and Ferrous. The gathering will take place from 6:00-6:20 p.m. on the main concourse of Coca-Cola Park. |
| If you can’t make it to the game, Matt Provence and Jon Schaeffer have all the action along the IronPigs Radio Network. Coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. with the AT&T pre-game show on flagship station 90.3 FM WXLV, 95.1 HD-2, WZZO, “The Digital Home of the IronPigs,” 89.1 FM WYBF “The Burn,” 1370 AM WPAZ, and Sports Radio AM1470 “The Fox.” The games can also be seen on the IronPigs Television Network powered by Service Electric. |
