LAST TIME OUT: The 'Pigs ran wild for their fourth straight win, swiping six bases total (five from Cal Stevenson) for a 5-3 series opening win over SWB. Weston Wilson smacked a lead-off homer to start things out before Stevenson was off to the races, stealing five bags en route to scoring two runs. Tyler McKay earned a hold with 1.1 perfect frames and Max Lazar slammed the door with a perfect ninth for his ninth save.
TODAY’S OPPONENT: Tanner Tully goes in the front end for SWB before a bullpen game in the nightcap. Tully took his second straight loss his last time out, allowing six runs in four frames against Worcester on July 27. He's allowed five runs or more in three straight starts, losing three of four. His only start this year against the 'Pigs was April 16 where he allowed three runs in 2.2 innings, suffering the loss.
RUNNING WILD: Cal Stevenson set a new franchise mark as he stole five bases on Tuesday night, the most by an IronPig in a single game since Cesar Hernandez stole three bags on July 1, 2013.. With Stevenson's five stolen bases and one from Jim Haley, the 'Pigs also set the franchise mark for most stolen bases as a team with six, besting the mark of five which had been last done on April 30, 2022 against SWB.
WESTWARD BOUND: Weston Wilson earned the first weekly MiLB award for a 'Pig this season, capturing International League POTW for the week of June 24-30. Wilson played in all six games during the series, going 10-for-24, slashing .417/.500/.917 for a 1.417 OPS. He hit four homers and drove in six runs, scoring 10 times, walking four times and stealing three bases. Wilson homered in back-to-back games, June 27 & 28, before belting two homers in the series finale on June 30. It was his second multi-homer game of the season and second in two weeks as well. Among International League leaders for the week, Wilson was first in runs scored (10), tied-fourth in hits (10), first in total bases (22), tied-first in homers (4), tied-fourth in stolen bases (3), tied-eighth in OBP (.500), third in slugging percentage (.917), and fourth in OPS (.1.417). Wilson has hit 15 homers in his past 24 games with the IronPigs.
WILSON SWOONS FOR JUNE: Weston was great for the entirety of June for the 'Pigs, smashing 10 homers in 16 games, slashing .351/.456/.912 for a 1.368 OPS.
'PIGS POPPING OFF: The 'Pigs finished with a 17-9 record in June, their most wins in a month this season. It is actually the most wins in a month for the 'Pigs since they won 18 games in June of 2018. The 'Pigs scored the fifth most runs in the IL in June (152), hitting the most homers (54) in the league.
EVEN STEVENSON: Cal Stevenson has a 11-game hitting streak working, going 14-for-37 with a homer and five doubles plus five stolen bases. SWIPER NO SWIPING: The 'Pigs have been the best in the IL in throwing out base stealers. The 'Pigs have caught 38 runners, which is 7 more than anyone else in the league. They've only allowed 68 stolen bases total as well, which is tied for fifth fewest in the league. Aramis Garcia has the 3rd most CS in all of MiLB with 25. It's not just the catchers too, as 'Pigs outfielders have racked up 25 outfield assists.
BUDDY, BUDDY: Buddy Kennedy saw his 14-game hitting streak to open his 'Pigs career come to a close on June 28. He still man- aged to reach base as he's been aboard for all 17 games he's played as a 'Pig. Kennedy was originally drafted by Arizona out of Millville Senior HS, in Millville, NJ the same High School that Mike Trout attended.
GRILLED RUBEN REVENGE: Against the team that traded him, Ruben Cardenas served his revenge hot going 9-for-27 with two homers, three doubles, and 10 RBI to help take four of six from Durham. Cardenas smacked two homers and drove in six runs in his 'Pigs debut and has been off and running ever since. He homered three times in his first three games with LHV, and picked up a hit in each of the first five games he played as an IronPig as well. Cardenas was dealt to the Phillies from Tampa Bay in exchange for cash on June 6. He now has 18 homers on the season across his time with Durham and the IronPigs.
TALKIN' TATERS: Following a slow start to the season (both in homers and wins), the 'Pigs bats have heated up leading them to one of the best records in the league over the past two months. Since May 13, the 'Pigs have the fourth most wins in the IL (26), while hitting the most homers (83).
LAZAR BEAM: Max Lazar has been nails at the back end of the bullpen for Lehigh Valley. Since allowing two runs (one earned) in his first Triple-A outing, Lazar has rattled off 19.1 straight innings (17 appearances), without allowing an earned run, allowing just six hits and four walks, striking out 21 and converting nine of 10 save chances. Lazar was named Phillies MiLB Pitcher of the Month for June. He went 2-1 with a 0.00 ERA (12.1 IP), 14 strikeouts, two walks, six saves, a .098 opponent’s batting average (4-41) and a 0.49 WHIP. For the month, among all relievers in the International League to throw at least 10.0 innings, he ranked first in WHIP, tied for first in ERA and saves and fourth in opponent’s batting average.
AMONG HALLOWED HALLS: Darick Hall, currently sitting at 67 career homers with Lehigh Valley, needs just two more homers to tie Andy Tracy (69) for the most homers in franchise history and also has 236 career RBI with the 'Pigs, needing just 24 RBI to tie Tracy (261) for the RBI mark.
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN: David Buchanan has returned to the IronPigs after an eight-year absence and has already made waves in the record book. With his victory on April 10, Buchanan secured his 25th win as an IronPig, giving him the most in franchise history. He's in sight of the strikeout record as well, currently 67 punchouts away from breaking Drew Carpenter's mark of 306