Hoskins, Pinto Lead Pigs To 4-3 Victory

Rhys Hoskins had three RBI and Ricardo Pinto was solid out of the Pig 'Pen as the IronPigs (49-25) held on for a 4-3 victory over the Rochester Red Wings (36-34) Friday night at Frontier Field.

With Jesen Therrien pitching, the Pigs were holding on to a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. After surrendering back-to-back one out singles to Engelb Vielma and Zack Granite, Mitch Garver flew out to right to allow Vielma to advance to the tying run to third. Therrien then induced a J.B. Shuck ground out to Hoskins to end the game, preserving a 4-3 Pigs victory and Therrien's second save of the season.
The Pigs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Hoskins RBI single that plated J.P. Crawford.
Hoskins then struck again in the top of the third, as the 24-year-old laced a two-run single to center plating Alfaro and Cozens, extending the Pigs lead to 3-0. The three-RBI night for Hoskins gave the first baseman his league-leading 58^th RBI of the season.
Andrew Pullin then recorded his first career Triple-A RBI as he plated Hoskins with a double to center field, scoring Hoskins to give the Pigs a 4-0 lead.
The Red Wings answered back with a three-run third of their own as ByungHo Park hit a two-run single, and John Ryan Murphy followed with a RBI single to center to cut the Pigs lead to 4-3.
Pigs starter John Richy, in his first Triple-A start, surrendered the three runs on eight hits in four 2/3 innings before giving way to Ricardo Pinto.
Pinto was fantastic once again out of the bullpen, as the Guacara, Venezuela native picked up his fourth win of the season as he tossed two 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out a pair. The right-hander has now tossed 13 1/3 scoreless innings since moving to the bullpen after his return from the Phillies.
The win snapped the Red Wings seven-game winning streak, and they now trail the Pigs by 11 games in the International League's Northern Division.
The series continues with game three of the four-game set against the Rochester Red Wings Saturday night at Frontier Field. The Pigs will send right-hander Mark Appel (5-3, 5.05) and the Red Wings will send right-hander Chris Heston (0-1, 8.53). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
The 2017 Season is the IronPigs 10^th Anniversary season at Coca-Cola Park and 10^th as the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The IronPigs are debuting the brand-new Bacon, USA, Membership Program this season -- a year-round IronPigs experience pass featuring numerous new 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 an annual holiday party, an invitation to an exclusive player and coaches photo session and more. For more information, visit ironpigsbaseball.com or call (610) 841-PIGS (7447). Memberships and group outings are on sale now.
The 2017 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.