Inside Pitch

Travis Hafner's night against Lehigh Valley in Dunn Tire Park:

Two out in the first with Jordan Brown at first, against Pigs starter Brian Mazone: On a 1-2 count, Hafner was fooled and topped a weak chopper back to the mound. Mazone threw him out easily at first.

Josh Barfield took a called third strike in his first at-bat. The Bisons trail, 3-0, after one as Aaron Laffey was torched for five hits in the top of the first. He had thrown 14 scoreless innings over his last two starts. Hmmm.

Leading off the fourth: On a full-count pitch, Hafner drew a walk as Mazone didn't challenge him and threw a curveball on the full-count offering. Wimp. Hafner eventually scored on Brad Snyder's bases-loaded sacrifice fly to make it 4-2. But the inning was far from over.

Two outs in the fourth, runners at second and third: Hafner ropes a first-pitch, two-run double to right to make it 8-4 and cap a seven-run outburst. On the previous pitch, Jordan Brown's two-run double snapped a 4-4 tie.

Meanwhile, Laffey has settled down to retire eight of the last 10 batters and suddenly has a big lead to work with.

End of the 5th: Laffey is out after 92 pitches (relieved by Brian Slocum) and his final line is 5-7-4-4-2-5. Unimpressive unless, of course, you realize that three runs and five hits came in the first inning. Pronk is 1 for 2 with a walk, a run scored and two RBIs. Barfield is 1-3 with an infield single, a run and two strikeouts. Barfield and Hafner are scheduled to bat first and third, respectively in the sixth. Let's see if they actually take their cuts or are lifted.

Bottom of the sixth, two outs against reliever Joe Bisenius: What will be Hafner's final at-bat ends with a four-pitch walk. So Hafner is 3 for 5 with two walks in his two games. Barfield did not bat as Morgan Ensberg struck out in his place. He's 1 for 5 in his two games. Bisons still lead, 8-4, through six.

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---Mike Harrington