Irvin, Pigs take opener of seven-game homestand

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Cole Irvin (2-1) sliced through the Pawtucket Red Sox offense Monday while the IronPigs provided just enough run support early on to secure a 4-1 victory at Coca-Cola Park.

Irvin was efficient on the mound for Lehigh Valley, allowing only five hits and one run through seven innings with five strikeouts. It was the second straight outing for Irvin in which the lefty went seven full innings. The only blemish was a two-out solo homer from Jordan Betts in the seventh.
The Pigs' bats pressured Pawtucket starter Josh Smith (0-1) quickly, stringing together three singles in the first inning to load the bases before an out was recorded. A sacrifice fly by Trevor Plouffe brought home the only run of the inning. 
The Pigs hit well again in the fourth. Following back-to-back singles from the reigning International League Hitter of the Week, Joey Meneses, and Nick Rickles. Dean Anna eventually drove in one, and Colin Cowgill brought home another with a two-out single to center field.
Smith was lifted after four innings, and Ty Buttrey shut down the side for two innings before the Pigs added an insurance run off of Williams Jerez.
For Lehigh Valley, Hoby Milner began a scoreless eighth inning in relief of Irvin, before giving way to Pedro Beato. The Pigs' all-time saves leader recorded a four-out save, his International League-leading eighth.
Cowgill broke out of a recent slump, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Rickles also went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to five games. The IronPigs had eleven hits, all of them singles.

Boston Red Sox utility man Brock Holt made a Good Shepherd Rehab appearance for Pawtucket, going 1-for-3 with a single.
The IronPigs will try for the series win tomorrow with Brandon Liebrandt looking to extend his season opening scoreless streak of 18 innings. The first pitch at Coca-Cola Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
The 2018 Season is the IronPigs' 11th season at Coca-Cola Park and 11th as the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Fans can get closer to the team than ever before with a Bacon, USA membership -- a year-round IronPigs experience pass featuring numerous amenities such as savings on parking at games and at the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Coca-Cola Park, on-field VIP access to watch batting practice, access to the annual holiday party, and more. For more information, click here or call (610) 841-PIGS (7447).
The 2018 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.