Lehigh Valley Wins WIldcard

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There will be more baseball in Allentown as Lehigh Valley has clinched a wildcard position with their rain shortened 4-1 victory over Syracuse, in Syracuse.  With the victory, the ‘Pigs are guaranteed to finish higher than Gwinnett in the wildcard race and will open the Division Series with two home games Wednesday and Thursday against division winner Pawtucket. 

The ‘Pigs win on Monday was keyed by Rich Thompson, who stole three bases for the 2nd time in three days, ending the season with an IL high of 48. Erik Kratz scored Thompson on a sac fly in the 3rd to give the ‘Pigs a 1-0 lead.  AFter Syracuse tied it up in the bottom of the inning, an RBI single by Brandon Moss followed by an BBI double by Kratz put the ‘Pigs up 3-1.  Lehigh Valley tacked on another in the 6th before the rains came after RIch Thompson singled, stole both second and third, and then scored on a bases loaded walk by Moss.  The ‘Pigs had the based loaded with one out when the rains came.  Nate Bump threw five very effective innings, giving up just a run on four hits.

An educated guess is that Lehigh Valley will start the playoffs with Dave Bush throwing Tuesday, followed by Ryan Edell Wednesday, and Brian Bass Thursday in the best of five series.

–Domonic Brown was out of the lineup yet again on Monday. 

–Lehigh Valley finished their season at 80-64 and amazing turnaround from their 58-86 finish under Dave Huppert last year. Under Ryne Sandberg this season, the team played a different brand of baseball with a much greater emphasis on aggressiveness and fundamentals.

–Look for ‘Pigs playoff updates as this week progresses….

18 thoughts on “Lehigh Valley Wins WIldcard”

  4. Part of me is cheering,part is booing . But what the hell I am a Philadelphia fan. Udaman Ryne also has been. But I forgot you were too big to play the middle infield. wink

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  5. It is so sad that people are still crying over trading Sanberg to the Cubs. It was 30 years ago. Get on with life. Bad trades happen all of the time. Last I checked, the Phillies were still involved in more World series than Ryan Sanberg during his career.

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    1. No, they are not a dime a dozen. Crying over them 10 or more years after they’ve retired is pathetic though. This is especially so of a person old enough to know the situation that involved him being traded.
      Sandberg was thought to be a 3rd baseman, and Schmidt was busy winning multiple MVPs at 3B, when Sandberg was traded. The Phillies had Julio Franco at SS, in the minors, who was thought to be better than Sandberg. The Phillies had Juan Samuel at 2B, in the minors, and he was thought to be as good as Sandberg. They chose to trade the wrong prospect… 30 years ago. Move on.

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      1. Good explanation, but with Nowheels, it’s falling upon deaf ears. He’s the picture-perfect definition of a senile old man.

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  7. By the way, really happy for guys like Gregg who follow this team on a day to day basis. They’ve been dreadful for the previous 3 years, so it’s nice for them (and the die-hard fans who fill up that stadium on a nightly basis up there) to be rewarded.

    Yeah, I know, it hurts the Phils in the short-term, but let the veterans who have served this franchise (guys like Kratz, Bump, Orr, and especially Thompson) so well have their fun as well. These playoffs will be over either either way by the 17th. They don’t need any of these guys that bad in the short term.

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    2. I like that guys like Aumont, Galvis, and DeFratus are getting some playoff experience (it’s obviously nothing compared to MLB). If anything, it’ll get them, and Brown, some high leverage at bats/innings.

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  9. No game tonight (Tuesday). I look for Bush Wednesday and Bass Thursday, followed by Edell and Mathieson in Pawtucket Friday and Saturday (if necessary). All bets are off if the rain starts changing the schedule.

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    1. I stand corrected. Rotation for PawSox series:
      Bush – Edell – Bass – Mathieson – Bump
      Home-Home-Away-Away-Away (as of now, pending rain, etc., starting Wednesday)

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