Lehigh Valley IronPigs guaranteed at least a tie for International League wild card with victory

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

WARNING: If you have a heart condition, it isn’t recommended you follow this team.

For yet another night the Lehigh Valley IronPigs kept fans on the edge of their seats with their hearts in their throats en route to a 7-4 victory over the Chiefs at Alliance Bank Stadium.

Sunday night's victory continues to provide Lehigh Valley (79-64) with a one-game buffer over Gwinnett, which beat Charlotte 6-5, in the International League Wild Card race heading into the final day of regular-season play.

“We’ve been a late-inning team all year -- seventh, eighth and ninth are where we’ve scored most of our runs, or it sure seems like it,” IronPigs manager Ryne Sandberg said. “The guys never say die and hustle throughout the game.”

Lehigh Valley guarantees itself at least a tie for the wild card with the Braves (78-65). If that happens, a one-game playoff will be Tuesday at Coca-Cola Park because the Pigs won the regular-season head-to-head matchup.

Rain is expected today in both Lawrenceville, Ga., and Syracuse, N.Y., so if either contest involving the contenders is washed out, Lehigh Valley advances on percentage points. If both games are rained out, the Pigs advance since they possess a one-game lead.

“This was a huge game from any standpoint,” Sandberg said. “I don’t care if it’s 80 degrees and sunny in both places tomorrow. It was a huge game tonight. It was key to stay in the driver’s seat. That’s where we are right now.”

Down 4-1 after Jesus Valdez’s three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, the IronPigs got within one in the top of the seventh. Pinch hitter Josh Barfield reached on a walk and Rich Thompson singled. Third baseman Pete Orr tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but he popped up to Syracuse reliever Lee Hyde.

After a double steal, Barfield scored on an RBI single by Kevin Frandsen. Thompson crossed the plate on a wild pitch by Jeff Mandel to make it 4-3.

“That was real frustrating, but the guys stole and went to second and third so that made me feel a lot better,” Orr said. “Even though we were still down one, that was the game right there, getting those runs in.”

Thompson sliced an RBI double to right field in the seventh inning, tying the game at 4-all. Orr made up for his failed bunt in the next at-bat by legging out a slow grounder to shortstop Seth Bynum. Pinch hitter Domonic Brown scored on the single and Thompson crossed the plate on an errant throw to first by Bynum for a 6-4 lead.

Freddy Galvis’ RBI groundout in the top of the ninth added an insurance run.

“We’ve been very good about setting the table with bunting, stealing bases, getting guys over,” Sandberg said. “Seven, eight, nine (innings) -- somebody comes up big, it’s somebody different all the time; whether it’s a great at-bat or it’s a hustling play. I tip my hat. The guys play nine innings and never say die, it’s been like that all year.”

Lehigh Valley, which went 5-for-20 with runners in scoring position, led 1-0 in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Frandsen. Starting pitcher Scott Mathieson led off with a single to right, advanced on a sac bunt by Thompson and went to third on a single by Orr.

The lead didn’t last long as three-consecutive singles by Steve Lombardozzi, Bynum and Tug Hulett tied the score in the bottom of the fifth. Valdez then laced a three-run homer just fair of the foul pole in right field for a 4-1 advantage.

Mathieson exited after 4.1 innings for the no decision. Mike Zagurski threw 1.2 innings, followed by a five-pitch seventh inning for Ryan Feierabend (10-8). Joe Savery gave up one hit in two innings for his second save of the season.

“This week’s been pretty tough, but we don’t care how we win,” Orr said. “We don’t care if we get no-hit and win on an error like we did the other night. We just try to win the game.”

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