The IronPig offense has sputtered as of late. In a recent six-game span, Lehigh Valley bats were dormant to the tune of batting just .188 in that frame. When the bats die, so do the number of runs scored, and that directly correlates to losses, not wins.

IronPig manager Gary Jones is still optimistic about his team. “It’s not for a lack of effort. They are still working hard,” Jones said. “I tell them you’re never as good as you think you are you are and never as bad as you think you are.”

In those six games, the IronPigs won just one of six games with the only win being a shutout pitched by Cole Irvin. In the five losses, Lehigh Valley bats tallied just six total runs. With runners in scoring position, the IronPig batted just .138 (4-for-29).

“I’m not worried. It’s about the guys ability to grind,” Jones said. “Over a long season you go through spells like this where you don’t score runs. So, no worry. The guys will bounce back.”

Just like clock work, Jones, the third-base coach for the World Champion Chicago Cubs two years back, was proven right. Lehigh Valley bats arrived to score 13 runs over the weekend games against Toledo. They were needed to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the IL leading Mudhens.

“We were up, they tied it, then they took the lead,” Jones said. “Our guys were resilient like they have been all year. They keep battling.”

This past Sunday, Toledo took a 5-4 lead in the top-of the ninth inning and it seemed the sweep was inevitable with the bottom of the IronPig order coming up. Catcher Nick Rickles tied it with a solo-homer. Catcher Logan Moore, batting .161, singled and was bunted to second by seldom played Matt McBride’s sacrifice bunt. Alexi Amarista, ninth in the order, provided the walk-off single for the win.

“That’s why it is called a team. A good team finds different ways to win a ball game,” Jones said.

The luck has continued through last night’s game in Gwinnett that resulted in a 4-3 win.

New Addition

Roman Quinn is still out due to surgery on his hand to repair a tendon and the lack of speed and excitement is evident in the lineup. That changed with the signing of Adron Chambers. After rising in the Cardinals system, he played in parts of three seasons for St. Louis, but spent the last two seasons in Independent ball. His presence has put a much-needed charge into the offense.

“He’s got some experience and I think its just a matter of him coming in and getting his legs under him and getting his timing back,” Jones said.

After going hitless in his IronPig debut last Friday, Chambers has hit in his last four including a Sunday effort that left the speedy outfielder a home run away from the cycle. With a multi-hit performance last night in Gwinnett, Chambers is batting .389 (7-for-18) with three doubles, a triple, and three runs scored.

It is a pretty good start to what could be a really good comeback story for Adron Chambers.

Bacon Bits

• Despite being out for the past month, Roman Quinn not only still leads the team, but he remains 2nd in the IL in stolen bases (12).

• Dylan Cozens, enjoying his stint in Philadelphia, is second in the league in homers (10) while Joey Meneses is tied for third in the IL with nine round trippers.

• Danny Ortiz has become the man to drive in runs. His 30 RBIs on the season has moved him to sixth in the league.

• While Irwin is the tops in wins (seven), Enyel De Los Santos is the league’s best in ERA (1.70).