Pigs Sweep Doubleheader, Series From Bisons

The IronPigs (40-19) swept the doubleheader and the series from the Buffalo Bisons (31-26) Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park before 7,881 fans.

The IronPigs took game one by a score of 2-1, with all runs being scored in the first inning and powered their way to a 6-3 victory in game two thanks to solo home runs from Rhys Hoskins, Dylan Cozens and Nick Williams.
Hoskins wasted little time giving the Pigs a 1-0 edge with a two-out solo homer to left field in the bottom of the first inning after Pigs game two starter Mark Leiter Jr. retired the Bisons in order in the top half.
Leiter was however touched for a three-run home run in the top of the second inning by Bisons designated hitter Raffy Lopez to give Buffalo a 3-1 edge after two. In his first appearance back for the Pigs, the right-hander tossed four 2/3 innings surrendering three runs (two earned) while walking a batter and striking out three.
The Pigs struck back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 3. Cozens led off the frame with his fourteenth home run of the season to bring the Pigs within a run as they trailed 3-1. Catcher Logan Moore then sent a two-out RBI single to center, scoring Taylor Featherston who walked and then stole second.
Hoskins doubled home J.P Crawford in the bottom of the fifth to give the Pigs a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Williams then led off the sixth with a first pitch blast to right-center field to stretch the Pigs lead to 5-3 before Héctor Gómez scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Jorge Flores to give the Pigs a 6-3 lead.
Hoby Milner tossed the final 2 1/3 innings for the Pigs, securing the Pigs 6-3 win as the left-hander picked up his first win of the season. Milner surrendered just one hit while racking up five strikeouts.
The Bash Brothers of Cozens and Hoskins have now homered in the same game five times this season, and have homered on the same day seven times with the two hitting homers in different games on April 15 at Pawtucket, and on May 7 at Buffalo.
Buffalo jumped out to the early advantage in game one, as Roemon Fields led off the game with a walk and then stole second to get in scoring position for International League Batter of the Week Jason Leblebijian. Leblebijian then roped an RBI single to left-center field to give the Bisons the early 1-0 lead.
The Pigs quickly responded by scoring two runs in the bottom of the frame to take the 2-1 lead. After back-to-back singles from Cameron Perkins and Pedro Florimón, Jorge Alfaro bounced a ground ball to Bisons first baseman Rowdy Tellez who misplayed the ball, allowing Perkins to score to tie the game at 1. After Dylan Cozens struck out, Rhys Hoskins hit the eventual game-winning RBI single to left field, scoring Alfaro to give the Pigs a 2-1 advantage.
Pigs game one starter César Ramos tossed three 1/3 innings, giving up just the one run on three hits while walking a pair and striking out one batter. The run surrendered was Ramos's first in 14 innings, as the southpaw entered the game on a 14 inning scoreless streak.
Ramos gave way to Pigs reliever Michael Mariot who tossed two 2/3 scoreless innings, surrendering just one walk. International League saves leader Pedro Beato then came on to pitch the seventh inning and after surrendering a leadoff single to Jake Elmore, the right-hander gave up back-to-back two-out walks to Jarrod Saltalamachia and Roemon Fields to load the bases for Leblebijian. Leblebijian then flew out to right field to end the game and Beato secured his 17^th save of the season and a 2-1 Pigs game one win.
The Pigs now begin a four-game set with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Thursday night at Coca-Cola Park. The Pigs will send right-hander Mark Appel (4-2, 6.14) and the RailRiders will counter with right-hander Brady Lail (3-2, 5.36). 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.