Lehigh Valley was 3-3 on the week and continue to stand in last place in the IL Northern Division at 34-54, 21.0 games behind leading Pawtucket.  Hitting leaders include Mike Cervenak who is 2nd in at bats (330), 8th in runs (53), first in hits (100), and 8th in average (.303).  Andy Tracy is 5th in average (.305), 8th in slugging % (.528), 3rd in OBP (.408), 10th in RBI’s (51), and 5th in doubles (21).  Pitching leaders include JA Happ who is 7th in IP (101.2) and leading the league in strikeouts (104). Brian Mazone is 6th in wins (8), 6th in ERA (3.28), first in IP (109.2), 7th in homers allowed (14), and 4th in WHIP (1.15). Matt Childers is 4th in the league with 13 saves.

The offensive onslaught continued last Friday evening, with the ‘Pigs posting another 10 spot on the way to a 10-2 victory over Syracuse at Coca Cola Park.  The ‘Pigs busted the game open with a 4 run 4th inning and didnt look back.  Brian Mazone(8-6) started and got the win, going 5.2 innings and giving up 2 runs on 7 hits.  The offensive firepower came from Andy Tracy (2-3, 3 runs, HR-13, 2 RBI’s), Jon Knott (1-2, 3 runs, hr-8, 2 RBI’s), Brennan King (2-4, 3 RBI’s), and Mike Cervenak (2-5, 2 runs, double).  The bullpen pitched 3.1 scoreless innings (Ennis, Green).

The ‘Pigs won their fourth consecutive game Saturday evening behind a very strong performance by JA Happ. Happ went 7.2 innings, giving up a lone run on 5 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 5.  71 of his 102 pitches were thrown for strikes.  Happ was tossing a shutout until a bloop single in the 6th allowed Syracuse their lone run to score (on a ball Jon Knott should have made a better effort on).  Stephen Randolph (2-0) picked up the win in relief with Matt Childers gaining his 13th save.  Andy Tracy (2-4, rbi), Mike Cervenak (2-4, 2 runs), Brandon Watson and Brennan King (2-3, rbi) all had multiple hit games for Lehigh Valley.

The ‘Pigs 4 game winning streak was snapped on Sunday in a 6-3 loss to Syracuse.  Kris Benson (0-1) made his first AAA rehab start, and it surely wont be his last, as he gave up 4 runs on 5 hits over 4 innings of work.  He threw 73 pitches, 49 of them for strikes, but was not very effective in this outing.  SYracuse jumped to a 4-2 lead after 4 innings and didnt look back on the way to the victory.  Oscar Robles was 4-5 with a HR (2) and 2 RBI’s leading the offense.  TJ Bohn, John Suomi, and Andy Tracy all added 2 hits  for Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh Valley was shut down by former AL Rookie of the Year Francisco Liriano on Monday evening in the 2-1 Rochester victory.  Travis Blackley (3-5) started for the ‘Pigs and pitched fairly well, albeit with some critical control issues.  He went 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits.  He walked 5 and struck out 3. Rochester jumped out early with a 2 run fourth, and the ‘Pigs were unable to muster any offense until the ninth inning on a Jon Knott RBI single.  Knott and Mike ROuse had multiple hit games for the ‘Pigs.

Rich Thompson returned to the lineup in a big way Tuesday evening in the 12-5 Lehigh Valley win over Rochester, to split their 2 game series. Thomspon was 2-5, with a homer(3), and a stolen base to kick start the ‘Pig offense.  Jon Knott (4-5, 3 runs, 2 doubles) and Oscar Robles (3-4, run, double, 3 RBI’s) also had huge games for the ‘Pigs.  TJ Bohn and Mike ROuse added 2 hits apiece and Jason Jaramillo ripped his 5th homer of the year to complete the 17 hit onslaught.  Les Walrond (2-7), earned the win going 6 innings and giving up 3 runs on 6 hits.  He walked 3 and struck out 4.

Lehigh Valley opened a series against Scranton at home Wednesday with Brett Myers(0-1) on the mound.  Myers went 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits.  He walked 2 and struck out 6, in the 5-3 loss. Brendan Watson got the ‘Pigs on the board early with a solo homer (1) but the ‘Pigs were unable to recover from the 3 run 5th inning by the Yankees.

The ‘Pigs game against Scranton on Thursday evening was suspended after 2 innings because of rain.

Transactions: With Brett Myers being sent down to join the Lehigh Valley rotation, RJ Swindle gets a much deserved promotion to show what he can do in the major leagues.  Swindle, 24, was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA with Lehigh Valley.  He walked 5 and struck out 32 in his 23.1 innings of work, very impressive statistics. Opponents were hitting just .233 against him.  Between Reading and Lehigh Valley, Swindle was 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 29 games.  An unbelievable 6 walks and 48 strikeouts in 40 innings. His WHIP on the year is 0.90.  Impressive.

On Thursday, the Phillies announed that JA Happ was recalled to the big club, specifically to take Brett Myers spot in the starting rotation.  Happ, 25, is a 6’6, 200 lb. lefty.  In 17 games started this year, he has gone 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA. He has walked 38 and struck out a league leading 104 in his 101.1 innings pitched, while yielding 91 hits.  His WHIP is 1.28 and the opposition is hitting .243 against him. He has a 2.51 ERA in his 5 June starts for the ‘Pigs. The key for Happ is his control and keeping the ball down.  He has a high 80’s–low 90’s fastball with good movement a good change. and an above average curve and he throws an occasional slider.  He has been prone to the home run ball this year is AAA.

40 man roster report–Catcher Jason Jaramillo is now hitting .254 with 5 HR and 27 RBI’s.  He has a .319 OBP and is hitting .262 with RISP. He has now made 10 errors on the year, including 3 last night, which is a bit too much for a receiver with as much skill as he has.  Jaramillo has thrown out 25% of basestealers on the year.  SS/2B Oscar Robles has raised his average to .248 on the year, with 2 HR and 19 RBI.  Jis OBP is .333 and he is hitting .273 with RISP.  His fielding has been fairly solid having commited 4 errors thus far.  OF TJ Bohn has cracked the Mendoza line raising his average to .202 this week.  He has 3 HR, 8RBI and 3 SB.  His OBP is .278 and Bohn is hitting .207 with RISP, His defense remains excellent this year.

Notes: –First Baseman Andy Tracy was named the Il Player of the Week for the week ending June 29th. Tracy hit .520 for the week with 10 runs and 6 extra base hits, raising his average on the year to .314.

–3 members of the Iron Pigs made the International League All Star team. LHP Brian Mazone, Catcher Jason Jaramillo, and DH/IF Mike Cervenak will represent Lehigh Valley in the game which will be played July 16th in Louisville.

–OF Rich Thompson returned to the lineup after missing 7 games with an oblique injury.

— SS Mike Rouse missed 2 games this week with a foot injury.

–Both games against Scranton were sellouts and the ‘Pigs have averaged well over 9,000 over recent home dates.

—Matt Childers is 3-0 with 8 saves and a 0.89 ERA in his last 16 games (20.2 IP, 2 ER)

—Chris SNelling was officially placed on the DL with knee inflammation retroactive to 6/24.

—TJ Bohn made an unbelieavble catch on a ball Brandon Watson lost in the lights last Friday, to go along with a homer (3). ‘Pigs manager Dave Huppert said, “that is one of the greatest plays ever”.

–A very difficult evening for Catcher Jason jaramillo on Wednesday as he committed 3 errors and additionally was charged with a passed ball.

–With the homer by Brandon Watson on Wednesday, he ended his streak of 383 at bats without a homer.