Crawford's third hit extends IronPigs' streak

Looking down the barrel of a five-run deficit on Tuesday in Rochester, Triple-A Lehigh Valley rallied for its 11th straight win. No surprise then that the IronPigs were able to erase a four-run deficit one night later.
"This team loves to win and it knows how to," Lehigh Valley shortstop J.P. Crawford said. "Everyone on the team hates losing, so right from the get-go, we want win. That helps us throughout the game because we don't ever give up. We want to win no matter what the score is."
The top Phillies prospect led the charge, capping his first three-hit game of the season with a go-ahead two-run knock in the 11th inning of the IronPigs' 11-8 win over the Red Wings. Crawford drove in four runs, walked and scored twice.

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"I'm just focused on having good at-bats, putting good swings on the ball," he said. "I want to keep doing the same thing, keep working hard before the game to perfect my swing. I'm just trying to keep working at it, and you make a little progress each day."

Also contributing eye-popping performances were sixth-ranked Phillies prospect and leadoff man Roman Quinn and No. 9 hitter Pedro Florimón. Quinn was a double shy of the cycle while swatting his first Triple-A homer and going 4-for-6 with four runs scored and two RBIs. Florimon went 5-for-5 -- a feat he also accomplished on Aug. 19, 2009 -- and scored three runs. No. 4 Phillies prospect Nick Williams homered on a two-hit night and No. 13 Rhys Hoskins knotted the game in the eighth inning with his 10th homer of the season. He also clubbed his ninth double.
"It's always fun [to watch Quinn hit] and so is watching him run around those bases," Crawford said. "I felt like everyone had a good night. I mean, Florimon with five hits, it's just good baseball. It's great baseball up and down the lineup, and it's fun be a part of that." 
Lehigh Valley's 12-game run is the longest winning streak in the International League since 2011, and its 23-year-old shortstop and No. 2 hitter is just getting started. After batting .145 in April, he's put up three multi-hit games in May and is 6-for-13 with a homer and a double since Monday.
"I feel good at the plate, just having good AB's and having good team AB's, too. That's important to me," MLB.com's No. 4 overall prospect said. "I'm always looking to get the runner over or do whatever I can do in a situation to help the team win."

With an RBI single to right off Rochester left-hander David Hurlbut in the first and third innings already under his belt, Crawford faced another southpaw -- Kevin Chapman -- with one out and runners on first and second in the 11th. He slapped an 0-1 pitch for a knock to right to score Florimon and Quinn, racing all the way to third on a throwing error by shortstop Engelb Vielma. No. 64 overall prospect Jorge Alfaro brought him in with a sacrifice fly.
"You just take a deep breath [at third]. It's fun coming through for my teammates. It was great," Crawford said. "[Pat Venditte] just threw a great inning of relief for us. To help him get a win and having [Pedro Beato] come in and shut them down, that's great feeling."
Venditte (3-0), the famed switch-pitcher who was acquired from the Mariners in a March 12 trade, allowed two hits and a walk over 2 1/3 frames. He's given up four hits and two walks in 21 scoreless innings for the IronPigs. Beato worked a 1-2-3 11th to notch his league-leading 11th save.