A look at the Lehigh Valley weekend.  As usual, a full report on the ‘Pigs coming each Thursday.

Friday–Lehigh Valley opened their 4 game series in Scranton with an unusual game, where starter Andrew Carpenter (1-2)was on pitch count (presumably around 40) and was removed after two innings, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits in the Lehigh Valley 6-3 loss. AFter Scranton jumped ahead 3-0, Lehigh Valley got one back in the 3rd on a Rich Thompson RBi single, but Scranton added 2 in the sixth and one more in the seventh to put the game away.  The ‘Pigs scored two in the 8th to make in respectable they key hit being a Andy Tracy RBI single.  Reliever Brian Gordon threw four innings in relief, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. SS Brian Bocock’s rough start continued, committing two errors(3,4).

Saturday-The series in Scranton continued with Brian Mazone (2-1) on the hill, pitching very effectively. He went 6 innings, giving up just 2 runs on 6 hits, in the 6-2 ‘Pigs win.  He didnt walk a batter and struck out 5.  The turning point came in the 4th inning, when Lehigh Valley put up a three spot, making it 4-1. The key hit was a 2 run double by Rich Thompson.  John Mayberry launched his 2nd homer of the year in the 5th, putting the game out of reach. Big days offensively from Thompson (2-5, 2b, r, 2RBI, sB), Mayberry (2-4, r, hr, rbi), and Wise (3-4, r, 3b).

Sunday–A tough loss for Lehigh Valley, 5-4 to Scranton in a game in which they held a late 4-3 lead which was lost when Jason Anderson (0-2) gave up a two run homer that proved to be the margin of difference for Scranton.  Ryan Vogelsong started and his control was an issue once again, as he went 5 innings, giving up 3 runs on five hits.  He walked 4 and struck out 4.  The big blow for Lehigh Valley was a three run homer by Cody Ransom(4) that gave them the 4-3 lead. Ransom had a big game with 3 hits against his former team, while Melvin Dorta and Paul Hoover added two apiece. Many an opportunity was wasted by Lehigh Valley as they left 11 runners on base.

Notes:Neil Sellers has hit in each of his last 8 starts.

–OF Chris Duffy is hitting 7-11 with RISP. Duffy misses games on Friday and Saturday with what was being called a “slight injury”. No other details were disclosed.

—Luis Maza left the game on Friday injured in the 6th inning while trying to beat out a grounder. Melvin Dorta replaced him Friday and started Saturday and Sunday in his absence. Dorta has hit safely in all six games he has played for Lehigh Valley.

—Brian Gordon has made 5 appearances, and all have been at least two innings.  He has allowed just 3 runs in his 12 innings of work.

–After a rough beginning to the year, reliever Ehren Wasserman has not been scored upon in his last 5.2 innings on the hill.

–Weird…despite their 7-10 record, Lehigh Valley has outscored the opposition 89-70 this year.

–Jason Anderson was charged with a blown save in his second consecutive appearance on Sunday.