Louisville Bats (37-26) at Lehigh Valley IronPigs (38-23)
The International League North division leading Lehigh Valley IronPigs will conclude their eight-game home stand with a four game set against the Louisville Bats, Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Both the Bats and the IronPigs come into the series playing well of late as each team is 7-3 over their last 10 games. Despite the recent run for the Bats, they are still in second place in the International League West division, 3.5 games behind Columbus.
The four-game series beings on June 11 and will run through June 14. Saturday's game has a 6:35 p.m. start time, Sunday's game is slated for a 1:35 p.m. start and Monday and Tuesday's games both are scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.
Promotions
June 11 – Saturday has been deemed Social Media Night at Coca-Cola Park and the IronPigs will don special jerseys, sponsored by Waste Management, for the occasion.
June 13 – The first 3,500 fans through the gates will receive an IronPigs Bandana on the second dog day (bring your dog to the park) of the season.
June 14 – The series finale will feature a Ferrous bobblehead picture frame given to the first 2,000 fans 17 and under.
Note: Battlefield Challenge will take place each day of the series.
Who’s Hot?
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Jeff Larish – Lehigh Valley’s first baseman has caught fire recently. Despite his season average of .267, Larish has hit .405 (15-for-37) over the past 10 games with six runs scored, 12 runs batted in and four home runs. He was also named the International League Batter of the Week for May 30 through June 5.
Scott Mathieson – The reliever has gone 13.2 straight innings without giving up a run. Over that span Mathieson is 0-0 with three saves and 10 strikeouts while allowing eight hits. The 27-year-old was also called up in the middle of that streak and posted three scoreless innings for the Phillies.
Louisville Bats
Devin Mesoraco – Hitting .330 on the season, Mesoraco has hit .463 (19-for-41) with eight runs scored, 16 runs batted in and three home runs in his last 11 games. The catcher is also second on the team in runs batted in for the season with 39.
Zach Cozart – In his past nine games, the shortstop has hit .568 (21-for-37) with 11 runs scored, nine runs batted in and two home runs. Cozart is carrying a 16-game hitting streak into Coca-Cola Park, the longest streak of his career.
Notable players for the visiting Bats
Homer Bailey – Louisville’s scheduled starting pitcher for game one of the series on Saturday is on rehab assignment after being placed on the disabled list with a shoulder sprain on May 29. Before the injury, Bailey was 3-1 with a 3.00ERA, 22 strikeouts and five walks through five starts for the Cincinnati Reds.
His last start before being place on the disabled list came on May 26 against the Phillies. Bailey allowed four runs on five hits before leaving the game after the fourth inning with shoulder spasms.
Dontrelle Willis – The two-time Major League All-Star and 2003 NL Rookie of the Year Award winner is on the Bats roster and should take the mound at some point during the series. Louisville’s rotation has not been set of late, one reason being Edison Volquez’s visit from Cincinnati and now Bailey’s rehab start.
Wills last threw on June 6, in the first game of a double-header for the Bats. The 29-year-old is 3-1 for Louisville this season with a 2.45ERA, 17 walks and 17 strikeouts over 47.2 innings pitched.
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