Friday-It was their second game of the year, and with it came their second walk off loss for Lehigh Valley. A 10th inning sacrifice fly by Chris Duncan scored Pete Orr, giving SYracuse the 10 inning 5-4 victory. Two critical errors by Cody Ransom led to 4 unearned runs in the loss, and the 3 thru 6 hitters in the Lehigh Valley lineup (Mayberry, Tracy, Ransom, Wise) were a combined 0-18, which was difficult to overcome.  Ryan Vogelsong got his first start in three years on American soil and went 4 innings giving up three runs (none earned) on two hits.  He walked five and struck out two.  Jason Anderson (0-1) took the loss in relief. Chris Duffy was the offensive punch going 3-4 with a double and triple knocking in three. Wilson Valdez and Brian Bocock added two hits apiece.

Saturday-Three games, three walkoff loses, with two more blown saves to add to the collection (Wasserman, Zagurski), in Saturdays 8-7 ,12 inning loss to Syracuse. AFter Syracuse jumped to a 1-0 lead, the ‘Pigs scored three in the third inning on RBI singles by DeWayne Wise and Dane Sardinha, along with a Sac Fly by Brian Bocock. Syracuse quickly regained the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the inning before a two run homer by Andy Tracy (1) put the ‘Pigs up again, 5-4 in the 5th.  Lehigh Valley starter Nate Bump, left with the lead after the 6th inning with a line of : 6IP 8H 4R, 3ER 1BB 2K.  The lead was quickly relinquished in the 7th when the CHiefs scored a run off of Ehren Wasserman and another in the 8th off of Jake Woods. Syracuse took the 6-5 lead into the ninth, but the red hot Chris Duffy belted a two run homer giving the ‘Pigs another oppotunity for their first win of the year.  Needless to say, it didnt happen as Mike Zagurski blew the save in the 9th as Syracuse tied the game, which they ultimately won in the 12th off of reliever Alex Concepcion (0-1).

Sunday–Lehigh Valley got their first win of the season in yet another one run game, 6-5. A ninth inning RBI single by Wilson Valdez scored Paul Hoover tieing the game for the ‘Pigs, and Rich Thompson scored on a dribbler just passed the mound one batter later.  Scott Mathieson (1-0)pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th to get the win. Joe Savery got the start and gave a serviceable effort going 5 innings and giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits.  He walked 2 and struck out 3.  Savery threw 83 pitches, 49 for strikes.  Luis Maza has 2 hits in his first start of the year for Lehigh Valley at 2B, while both Wilson Valdez and Paul Hoover added two hits apiece. Cody Ransom hit his first homer of the year, a solo shot.

Transactions: Brandon Duckworth was placed on the DL with “turf toe” in order to make room for Andrew Carpenter who was optioned to Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Notes: Scott Mathieson threw two shutout innings Saturday, without yielding a baserunner. He threw 19 pitches, 14 for strikes and struck out two. He added another two shutout innings on Sunday.

–Look for Andrew Carpenter to get his first start of the year on Monday. It should be a nice pitching matchup with Carpenter taking on Red Sox prospect Michael Bowden.

—Ehren Wasserman has blown saves in both of his appearances this year.

—Neil Sellers was 2-6 with a run scored, getting his first start at third base on Saturday.

–Wison Valdez has begun the year very hot at the plate, hitting .474 after his first four games. Both Chris Duffy (.368) and Paul Hoover (.357) had a very good first week as well.