The Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs have dropped two straight games in the Governor's Cup Finals after taking control with a victory in the series opener. In game 3 on Thursday night, the 'Pigs faced New Jersey native Joe Martinez, who was outstanding, striking out a career high 13 batters, allowing 1 run and 3 hits, while leading the Columbus Clippers (Indians affiliate) to a 6-2 victory and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.The tone for the night was set early on, as the right-handed Martinez struck out the side in each of the first two innings.
Martinez's battery mate Luke Carlin drove in 3 runs, including a 2-run homerun off of IronPigs starting pitcher Dave Bush in the 2nd inning, to pace the Columbus offense.
Third baseman Kevin Frandsen got Lehigh Valley on the board in the 3rd inning, when a sacrifice fly brought home shortstop Freddy Galvis.
The score stayed 2-1 until the 7th when IronPigs reliever Ryan Feierabend surrendered an RBI infield single to Columbus left fielder Chad Huffman.
Trailing 3-1 in the 8th inning, Lehigh Valley got one back. Reliever Chen Lee walked the first batter he faced, IronPigs center fielder Rich Thompson. The speedster quickly swiped second base for his second steal of the game, and moved up to third base on a throwing error by Carlin. Left-fielder Scott Podsednik then rolled a grounder to shortstop that plated Thompson and brought the 'Pigs back within a run.
The contest didn't remain close for long, as relief pitchers Juan Perez and Chance Chapman, making their first appearances of the postseason, dug Lehigh Valley into a hole they couldn't climb out of. The duo combined to serve up five straight 2 out walks, three of which forced in a run, to put wrap up the scoring.
Lehigh Valley will attempt to stay alive in the 2011 postseason in Friday night's game four scheduled for 7:05 PM at Allentown's Coca Cola Park. Game five, also at CCP if necessary, will be played on Saturday at 6:35 PM.
In other news...
Right-handed pitching prospect Brody Colvin breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday when he received word that charges against him, stemming from a January 2009 arrest, had all been dropped.
Colvin, who was 19 years old at the time, was charged with disturbing the peace, simple battery and resisting an officer. His older brother Littleton was also taken into police custody at the time of the incident, which occurred outside an establishment known as City Bar in Colvin's hometown of Lafayette, LA.
The Phillies' 7th round draft pick in 2009, Colvin was recently ranked as the organization's 6th best prospect in a poll conducted by The Reading Eagle.
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