Pigs, R-Phils continue playoff push

In Allentown Saturday, Cesar Hernandez drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the IronPigs a 4-3 win over Toledo.  Cody Overbeck hit his 11th home run for Lehigh Valley, and Tyler Cloyd threw 6 innings (3 runs, 2 earned, 6 hits, 3 walks, 4 Ks, no decision).  Jake Diekman (0.79) threw another scoreless inning out of the Pig's pen.  The win, combined with Pawtucket's loss, puts Lehigh Valley (69-60) in a tie with the Red Sox for the wild card playoff spot.


In Akron, D'Arby Myers' (.319) double in the 7th inning drove in Miguel Abreu with the winning run for Reading, in the R-Phils 1-0 win over the Aeros.   Ethan Martin, obtained from the Dodgers in the Victorino trade, tossed 7 shut out innings for the win.  Tyler Knigge threw a 1-2-3 inning for his 4th hold for Reading, who are 1 game behind New Britain for the final playoff position.

In Clearwater, Zack Collier led off the game with a home run, and Edgar Duran's 3-run shot in the 7th inning gave the Threshers a 5-1 lead, but a throwing error by Cameron Rupp opened the door for 4 unearned runs in the top of the 8th, and Juan Sosa allowed the winning run in the 9th, as the Manatees handed Clearwater a devastating 6-5 loss.

In Greensboro, even the return of Aaron Altherr to the BlueClaws' line up was not enough, and the Claws fell to the Grasshoppers, 9-4. Altherr, Kelly Dugan and Gabreil Lino each had a pair of hits in the losing cause, as Luis Paulino took the loss, allowing 5 runs to break open a 4-4 game late.


In Springfield, Jonathan Singleton (.280) pounded 4 hits, including his 18th home run, and drove in 3 runs for Corpus Christi, as the Hooks battered the Cardinals, 12-4............In Round Rock, Jarred Cosart won his first AAA game, with 2 innings of relief for Oklahoma City in the RedHawks' 5-4 come from behind win over the Express............In Sacramento, Tuffy Gosewisch (.354 since trade)  had 3 hits and drove in 3 runs for Las Vegas, as the 51s beat the River Cats, 10-4.  Michael Taylor (.289) had a double and 2 walks for Sacramento...........In Fresno, Jesus Merchan (.410) had 3 hits, scoring a run and droving in another one, for Tucson, in the Padres' 5-3 loss to the Grizzlies.......In Midland, Matt Rizzotti (.343) had 2 more hits for the Rock Hounds, including an RBI hit to cap off the game winning 4-run rally in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Hounds' 5-1 win over Tulsa.