It’s “Painter Day” in Bacon, USA, but we’re in a soggy kind of way. We’ll see if this goes off today.
About Yesterday
The IronPigs continued their winning ways yesterday in front of 10,100 in an education day sellout. On the pitching side Rangel turned in his standard fare with five innings and three runs. With a new microscope on the bullpen, Padilla pitched an inning plus with no runs, and our lone lefty Vespi came in mid-inning to finish it up for Padilla. Schulfer pitched a clean inning and got the win. Sweet got a chance at the closer role and gave up a run on two hits and a walk before shutting it down. Kemp had two hits including a opposite field homer and Brito and Mercado added two hits as well in the 5-4 win.
“Playoffs? Are You Kidding Me?”
The IronPigs are 32-14, on a 2-game winning streak, and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They are in first place in the International League first-half standings in order to qualify for a playoff spot. Jacksonville won yesterday and remains 3.0 games back. Durham lost and drops to 4.0 games back. There was rain in the western division as Indianapolis and Nashville drop to 4.5 games back.
We are counting down to June 22.
Resources
The Phillies won going away in Colorado last night. With all eyes on the bullpen, following Luzardo’s 6 innings of 1-run ball, Ruiz gave up a run, and Lazar gave up a couple to close out the game.
Around here, we recently credited the rotation for their role in the IronPigs success.
In a notebook column, we proposed a sort of “Survivor, Bullpen Edition” to try to find help for the missing Alvarado.
The series preview includes transactions and information about the Buffalo roster and prospects.
The Shuffling From Buffalo
Buffalo’s rotation isn’t exactly what we projected in the series preview, as CJ Van Eyk arrived from New Hampshire and made his Triple-A debut in yesterday’s game. SS Ryan McCarty was also promoted from AA-New Hampshire as prospect Josh Kasevich was sent out on rehab and RHP Anders Tolhurst was placed on the temporary inactive list.
The rest of their probables seem to be in line, though, pending rain of course.
Game Day!
First pitch is slated for 6:45PM as the Main/East gates open at 5:30PM and the Club Level/West opens at 5:15PM
Promotions:
- It’s a “Tail Waggin’ Day” so bring out the pups. They love rain!
- There’s an Umbrella Giveaway because of course there is. (We actually enjoy the Morning Call sponsoring an umbrella every year because it’s handy to have extras around that are kind of fungible.)
- Tacos and Tallboys: Specials on tacos and 16oz domestic cans, in the plaza.
- Allentown City Series: Wear your “Pigs’s” stuff to salute Hess’s and that patio strawberry pie!
- The Phillie Phanatic will be in town.
Weather: 67% chance of rain at game time, 51° with 12mph winds. Cool.
Pitching*
RHP Andrew Painter (1-0, 2.25) is scheduled to face RHP Lazara Estrada (1-3, 5.97)
*Pitching may be subject to change due to weather. If they are unsure that the game can start or that it will continue beyond a short window, they may not want to get the starters warmed up and used. That goes for either team, but especially with Painter whom they’ve handled very carefully in his return from Tommy John. Also, with Painter’s turn in the rotation coming up twice next week in Norfolk, a scratch tonight would allow them to keep him on a 6-day schedule for now, until they want to challenge him with a 5-day perhaps the following week in Charlotte or when they return home from their two-week roadie coming up.
See you at the park,
@Kram207
Featured Image of Justin Crawford by Cheryl Pursell. It was cropped to fit the space.