The Pacific Coast League All-Stars defeated the International League All-Stars 6-4 Wednesday night at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash.
The Pacific Coast League All-Stars defeated the International League All-Stars 6-4 Wednesday night at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash.
IronPigs starter Tom Eshelman started the game for the I.L Team, as the right-hander tossed two innings, surrendering just one run off one hit. The hit came off the bat off Fresno Grizzlies third baseman Colin Moran, a solo home run in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1.
Columbus Clippers outfielder Richie Shaffer, who homered to give the I.L. the initial 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, went 2-for-3 on the night with the aforementioned solo home run and added a RBI double in the top of the fifth inning to narrow the deficit to 5-3 at the time.
However, the PCL All-Stars used a four-run fourth inning, highlighted by Nashville Sounds outfielder Renato Núñez three-run home run to give the PCL a 5-1 lead at the time.
Prior to Shaffer's RBI double in the fifth, Willy Adams launched a solo homer to trim the deficit to 5-2.
Oklahoma City Dodgers second baseman Willie Calhoun added an RBI double for the PCL in the bottom of the fifth to give them a 6-3 edge, before Rusney Castillo of the Pawtucket Red Sox hit an RBI double in the top of the seventh inning to make it a 6-4 game.
Pigs catcher Jorge Alfaro entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as a defensive replacement for Durham Bulls catcher Mike Marjama. Alfaro went 0-for-2 on the night.
Despite the loss in the 30th Anniversary game, the IL still owns a 12-8 advantage in the 19 years since the event changed to the current IL vs. PCL format. With the win, the PCL earned the right to have its champion play as the "home team" at the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game which will take place Tuesday, September 19 ,in Moosic, Pa.
Rhys Hoskins, who participated in the 2017 Futures Game, Dylan Cozens chose not to participate in the festivities, while Pedro Beato opted out of the All-Star game to spend time with his newborn child.
The Pigs return to action Thursday night at Coca-Cola Park with a four-game series against the Rochester Red Wings. Right-hander Ben Lively (6-1, 2.40) will start for the Pigs, and the Red Wings will send right-hander Bartolo Colon (2-8, 8.14 with the Atlanta Braves).
