Pigs Go For Fifth Series Sweep Of Season

The IronPigs (34-15) and Louisville Bats (16-32) conclude their four-game series with today at 1:35 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park. It is Military Appreciation Day at the ball park, and 3,000 fans 18 and older will receive a Camo Cap Giveaway presented by NACCI Printing.

The Pigs will send RHP Mark Appel (2-2, 7.59) against Bats LHP Cody Reed (1-2, 4.08). Today's starting pitching matchup is presented by Allentown Family Foot Care, which provides the latest in medical and surgical treatments of the entire foot and ankle. Learn more at affc.com.
RHP Mark Appel makes his 10th start of the season for the Pigs after not factoring into his last three decisions. In his last outing on May 24 against the Indianapolis Indians, the Houston native lasted just 2 2/3 innings surrendering six runs on four hits and walked six batters.
LHP Cody Reed makes his fifth start of the season for the Bats after beginning the 2017 campaign with Cincinnati. In his last outing on May 23 against Pawtucket, the Memphis, TN native tossed four inning allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits while walking five.
The IronPigs tallied a season-high 14 runs in their 14-2 thrashing of the Louisville Bats in front of 8,615 fans Sunday night at Coca-Cola Park.
The Pigs again used the long ball to power to their 20^th win in their last 22 games, as Dylan Cozens  hit a two-run homer in the second and Nick Williams  delivered a two-run blast in the fourth inning and a solo shot in the eighth inning. The homer happy Pigs have now homered in eight consecutive games as well as 12 of their last 13 games.
J.P. Crawford  began the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as he sent a sacrifice fly to center to score Roman Quinn  who doubled down the left field line to lead off the frame for the Pigs and then swiped third.
A five-run second inning was highlighted by the Cozens two-run homer to left field, scoring Rhys Hoskins  to give the Pigs a 6-0 lead after two. Quinn started the five-run rally as he plated Pedro Florimón  with a three bagger to right field, and was then drove in on a Crawford RBI double to right to give the Pigs a 3-0 lead. Hoskins followed with an RBI single to right scoring Crawford to give the Pigs a 4-0 lead, before Cozens unloaded on an 0-1 pitch and sent it to left field for an opposite field two-run home run to cap off the five-run inning.
Lehigh Valley had their second-consecutive six-run fourth inning after driving in six runs in the fourth Saturday night. Williams' solo home run was the highlight of the Pigs six run inning, as the Pigs again tacked on six hits in the frame to jump out to a 12-1 lead after four.
Williams then struck again for his second home run of the night, and his 10^th of the season with a two-run shot in the eighth inning that plated Taylor Featherston  to give the Pigs a 14-2 win. Williams has now homered seven times in his past eight games, as well as hit a home run in seven out of his last 11 games played.
Pigs starter Nick Pivetta  picked up his fifth win of the season as he tossed six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out four. Pivetta has also won every start that he has made for the IronPigs this season.
With the win the Pigs have won a franchise-record 22 games in a month after the Pigs previously winning 20 games in June and July of last season and have now won 20 of their last 22 games. At 34-15 the Pigs have the best record in the International League and tied for the best mark in all of Minor League Baseball with West Michigan (33-15) of the Midwest League (A).
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.