Wings top Iron Pigs in series opener

The teams continue the series Saturday night, as members of the 1997 Governors’ Cup Championship team will make an appearance.

After exploding for five home runs in their win over Pawtucket on Thursday, the Wings bats were ice cold to start the game against IronPigs starter Phil Klein. The righty cruised through the first three Wings batters as he struck out the side on just 15 pitches.

With two outs in the second, the Wings managed to gain some momentum by utilizing the basepaths. Logan Schafer walked and stole second base, then scored on a single by Darin Mastroianni to give the Wings a 1-0 lead.

Wings starter Pat Dean struggled in his last start against Syracuse by giving up six runs, but was solid through the first three innings against the Iron Pigs. The lefty gave up just two hits while striking out one batter.

In the fourth inning, Wilfredo Tovar made a fantastic throw on a bouncing ball at short to get J.P. Crawford out at first base. Defense would haunt the Wings through the rest of the inning, however. Nick Williams hit a slow grounder just in front of the plate, but John Ryan Murphy made a wild throw to first base allowing Williams to advance to second. Darin Ruf hit another slow grounder to third base, and made his way to first safely as James Beresford wasn’t able to make a throw.

After walking Andrew Knapp to load the bases, Dean allowed a bloop single to Cameron Perkins to score Williams. Mastroianni made a spectacular diving play in center to limit the damage, but a runner tagged from third to give the IronPigs a 2-1 lead. Dean ended the inning by striking out Cedric Hunter looking on a disputed call. Hunter and IronPigs manager Dave Brundage argued the call, and both were thrown out from the game.

Schafer drew his second walk of the game to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and Wilfredo Tovar later launched a double off the left field wall.

James Russell replaced Klein following the hit by Tovar. Klein lasted just 4.1 innings while allowing three runs on three hits while striking out four and walking two. He threw 77 pitches, 49 of which were strikes. After a quick out, Field hit a single up the middle to score two runs and give the Wings a 3-2 lead.

Dean struggled with his command throughout the game, but managed to only give up two walks. In the sixth inning, Dean walked Ruf and then allowed a long single to Knapp. He was replaced by Neil Ramirez following the hit. Dean went 5.1 innings while allowing just two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks. He threw 108 pitches, with 68 for strikes. Since being sent back down to the Wings in June, Dean had only allowed two runs or less in one start.

After retiring the first three batters he faced, Ramirez gave up a walk in the seventh and was replaced by Ryan O’Rourke. Ramirez threw one scoreless inning with one walk.

In the bottom of the seventh, Colton Murray relieved Russell to face the bottom of the Wings order. Schafer and Tovar both picked up singles, and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. John Ryan Murphy walked to load the bases, and Field hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Schafer giving the Wings a 4-2 lead. Elvis Araujo relieved Murray and got Beresford to ground out to first to end the inning.

O’Rourke struck out the first three batters he faced, and was replaced by D.J. Baxendale in the eighth inning to face the right-handed hitting Ruf. O’Rourke didn’t allow a hit while striking out three in 1.1 innings.

J.T. Chargois replaced Baxendale to open the ninth, and set down the side.

Winning Pitcher: Pat Dean (4-6)
Losing Pitcher: Phil Klein (1-1)
Save: J.T. Chargois (8)

NOTES: 
INF Tommy Field has now reached base safely in 22 straight starts.