Iron Pigs Report

Lehigh Valley had a rough week going 3-4 , and now stand at 43-63, in last place in the Northern Division of the International League, 21.5 games behind Pawtucket. Updating ‘Pigs among league leaders, Mike Cervenak is 8th in at bats (368), 3rd in hits (116), and 3rd in the league in average (.313). Andy Tracy is 9th in slugging % (.520), 7th in on base % (.384), 4th in walks (52), 4th in RBI’s (68), and 4th in doubles (25). Brandon Watson, who has been playing extremely well lately is 5th in the league in hits (107). JA Happ is 9th in the league in ERA (3.37), 10th in the league in innings (114.2), leads the league in strikeouts (124), and is 6th in the league in WHIP (1.18). Brian Mazone is 9th in WHIP (1.19), 5th in homers allowed (17), and 5th in innings (121.2). Les Walrond is now 3rd in the league in ERA (2.83) and Matt Childers is 2nd in the league in saves (16).

The series against Scranton continued last Friday evening with a 6-4 loss in front of a sellout crowd. Scranton jumped to an early 4-0 lead off of Travis Blackley (5-6), who went 6 innings and gave up 6 runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out 3. The ‘Pigs got back in it with 2 runs in the 4th, but Scranton finshed off Lehigh Valley by adding 2 more in the 6th inning. Brandon Watson was 3-5 with a run scored, while Andy Tracy (2-4, run, rbi), Oscar Robles (2-4, rbi), and Mike Rouse all had multi hit games for the ‘Pigs.

The struggles against Scranton continued for Lehigh Valley on Saturday evening, as another fantastic outting by Les Walrond was wasted when the Yankees came from behind in the 9th inning for a 2-1 victory. Matt Childers (2-2)who had been untouchable as of late, blew the save, on 2 singles that barely made it through the infield, but were costly nonetheless, as 2 runs scored on them. Walrond went 7 shutout innings, yielding 7 hits. He walked one and struck out 5. The Lehigh Valley run came in the 5th inning on a Casey Smith RBI single. Rich Thompson added 2 hits for the ‘Pigs.

Another long night against the Yankees on Sunday evening as Brian Mazone (8-8) was scored upon early and often in the 7-2 Scranton victory. Mazone, who has been extremely inconsistent in his last several starts went 5 innings and gave up 5 runs on 9 hits. He walked one and struck out 3. The Lehigh Valley runs came on RBI singles by Rich Thompson and John Suomi.

Lehigh Valley opened a series against Durham at home on Monday with an impressive performance by Kris Benson. Benson(1-4), who has not pitched well at all during his rehab, made the first step in turning that around, going 6 innings and allowing only 1 run on 6 hits in the 4-2 ‘Pig victory. He didnt walk a batter and struck out 4. Matt Childers picked up his 16th save in relief. The offense was led by Brandon Watson, Mike Cervenak, and Rich Thompson, all who had 2 hits, as well as Jon Knott who hit his 14th homer of the year.

JA Happ (7-6) has another very good outing on Tuesday as the ‘Pigs took their second straight from Durham 4-3. After giving up a 2 run homer in the first, Happ settled down nicely and was overpowering through six innings as he struck out 8 Bull batters. Happ tired in the 6th and ended the outing was a line of 6 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, one walk, and 8 strikeouts. As I was there, I think Happ actually pitched far better than even his line, which wasn’t bad. The ‘Pigs came back from the early 2-0 deficit behind 2 sacrifice flies by Andy Tracy and a long home run by Rich Thompson (4). RJ Swindle pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save of the year (Matt Childers had pitched 3 straight days). Other offensive notables for the ‘Pigs were Brandon Watson (2-4, 2 runs), Mike Cervenak (2-4, rbi) and TJ Bohn (2-3),

The game on Wednesday was suspended by the storms during the second inning with the ‘Pigs losing 4-0 and picked up on Thursday as part of a doubleheader. Travis Blackley (5-7) started and was hit around pretty good, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in 2 innings of work. Gary Knotts came on and gave Lehigh Valley a solid effort in relief going 5 innings and yiedling a lone run. The ‘Pigs made the game close, ultimately losing 6-5, but it was too little too late. Jason Jaramillo was 3-4 with 2 runs scored and a homer (7). Brandon Watson was 3-5 with 2 RBI’s, Joey Hammond was 2-4 with 2 runs and an RBI, and the ever reliable Mike Cervenak was 2-4 with a run scored. Lehigh Valley left the game tying run on base in the 9th.

In Game Two on Thursday, Les Walrond continued his quest to be noticed and it is starting to become difficult not to notice him with yet another great performace in his 4 hit shutout Thursday afternoon against Durham. Walrond (4-7) went all 7 innings yielding only 4 hits and striiking out 7 in the 2-0 victory. He lowered his ERA to 2.83. Both Brandon Watson and Rich Thompson were 2-3 for Lehigh Valley.

40 man roster report: JA Happ 7-6, 3.37 ERA. 114.2 IP, 95 hits, 40 walks, 124 K’s, 1.18 WHIP, .228 Opp BA; Jason Jaramillo .253, 7HR 31 RBI, .318 OBP, .375 Slugging %, TJ Bohn .218, 3 HR 13 RBI, 4 SB, .288 OBP, .318 SLG, .231 RISP; Oscar Robles, .245, 2 HR 22 RBI, .318 OBP, .305 SLG, .250 RISP, 6 errors; Mike Cervenak .315 BA, 7 HR 54 RBI, 5 SB, .335 OBP, .442 SLG, .299 RISP; Joe Bisenius 0-1, 9.72 ERA, 8.1 IP, 11 hits, 8 walks, 7 K’s, 2.35 WHIP, .355 Opp BA.

Notes: Manager Dave Huppert was ejected for the second time this year for arguing a called strike in the 3rd inning of the game last Friday. The umpire Andy Vincent was the same umpire who ejected Huppert the first time.

–The bullpen has a 2.02 ERA over the last 23 games.

–Reliever John Ennis has allowed only 1 run in his last 9 appearances and Stephen Randolph has not allowed an ER in his last 8 appearances.

–In his last 5 starts, Les Walrond is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA, with 11 walks and 37 strikeouts.

—Jason Jaramillo’s caught stealing rate is now at 22.5%

–Lehigh Valley is 2-18 against Pawtucket and Scranton, the top teams in their division.

–After starting the season 0-3 with a 5.59 ERA in his first 4 starts, JA Happ is 7-3 with an ERA under 3 in his last 15 starts.

—Mike Cervenak has a 10 game hitting streak.

Transactions: Pitcher Jason Anderson was sent down to Reading last Friday. He had pitched well for Lehigh Valley but is probably considered an organization filler and help was needed in Reading after Josh Outman was traded. Anderson was 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA for Lehigh Valley.

–Pitcher Joe Bisenius was returned to the ‘Pigs from the Phillies to make room on the roster for newly acquired Joe Blanton. Bisenius did not appear in a game while he was up with the big club.

–OF/DH Mike Cervenak was optioned back to Lehigh Valley from Philadelphia where he was 0-1 as a pinch hitter. Cervenak was sent down to make room on the roster for Brett Myers.

Correction: 3B Brennan King remains on the DL with a bad elbow and has not been activated as indicated last week. He has been out of action since 7/4.

17 thoughts on “Iron Pigs Report”

What about walrond? I know he’s old, at least in baseball years but he’s pitched well lately, no? Why not consider him for even say middle relief? 40 man roster issues?

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17 thoughts on “Iron Pigs Report”