IronPigs unveil 2011 schedule

FROM THE MORNING CALL

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will open next season with a Thursday night, April 7, home game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the IronPigs announced this afternoon in releasing their entire 2011 schedule.

The 2011 schedule is highlighted by 24 home games against the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets' Triple-A affiliates, a franchise-record 12 Saturday home games and 34 overall weekend dates, the IronPigs announced.

The 144-game schedule, featuring 72 home games at Coca-Cola Park in east Allentown, also includes back-to-back home games leading up to Independence Day on July 2 and July 3.

"It's unbelievable to think we are announcing the schedule for our fourth season already," IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes said in a news release. His team is expected to again top 600,000 in annual attendance this year.

In addition to hosting a mini two-game set to open the season against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the IronPigs also will host the New York Yankees' affiliate for a four-game series April 18-21 and a two-game set Aug. 30-31.

The Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston's top farm club, also will play eight games at Coca-Cola Park with series scheduled for April 26-29 and July 26-29. The New York Mets' Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, play at Coca-Cola Park April 30-May 3, July 30-31 and for the final home games of the season during Labor Day weekend of Sept. 2 and 3.

Starting times for 2011 remain near-identical with Saturday home games remaining at 6:35 p.m. Monday through Friday games remain predominately scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The only exceptions are Tuesday, April 12 (10:35 a.m.); Tuesday, May 3 (10:35 a.m.); Tuesday, May 24 (10:35 a.m.); and Thursday, July 28 (11:05 a.m.). Sunday games are scheduled for 1:35 p.m. though June 26 and 5:35 p.m. from July 24 until the end of the season. The only Sunday exception is for when the IronPigs celebrate Independence Day on Sunday, July 3, with a 6:35 p.m. start.

To renew or order season tickets for the 2011 IronPigs season, call (610) 841-PIGS or visit Coca-Cola Park's ticket office during normal business hours.

The 2011 IronPigs schedule, home and away:

APRIL

7-9 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

10-12 vs. Syracuse

13-15 @ Rochester

16-17 @ Syracuse

18-21 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

22-25 @ Buffalo

26-29 vs. Pawtucket

30 vs. Buffalo

MAY
1-3 vs. Buffalo

5-8 @ Columbus

9-12 @ Toledo

13-16 vs. Norfolk

17-20 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

21-24 vs. Gwinnett

26-29 vs. Rochester

30-31 @ Gwinnett

JUNE

1-2 @ Gwinnett

3-6 @ Charlotte

7-10 vs. Durham

11-14 vs. Louisville

16-19 @ Pawtucket

20-23 vs. Indianapolis

24-27 vs. Charlotte

28-30 @ Buffalo

JULY

1 @ Buffalo

2-3 vs. Rochester

4-5 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

6-8 @ Rochester

9-10 @ Syracuse



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11-13 2011 All-Star Week (Salt Lake City, UT)

14-15 vs. Syracuse

16-17 @ Syracuse

18-21 @ Pawtucket

22-25 vs. Columbus

26-29 vs. Pawtucket

30-31 vs. Buffalo

AUGUST

1-2 @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

4-7 @ Durham

8-11 @ Norfolk

12-15 vs. Toledo

16-17 vs. Rochester

18-19 @ Rochester

20-23 @ Indianapolis

24-27 @ Louisville

28-29 vs. Syracuse

30-31 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

SEPTEMBER

2-3 vs. Buffalo

4-5 @ Syracuse