When last we saw the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on their home field, the Fourth of July weekend was just wrapping up. The team dropped both ends of a double-header to the Pawtucket Red Sox and had fallen to 42-44 on the season and were tied with Rochester for third in the IL North — 8 ½ games behind the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. After the three-day All-Star Break, an 11-game road trip and an off-day to start this week, the team returns home this week for a 10-game homestand.

Now, Syracuse has leapfrogged past both the IronPigs and Rochester, leaving the hometown team tied for fourth in the IL North, nine games behind the RailRiders. Lehigh Valley is currently on a five-game losing skid, with Toledo (45-55) coming to town to start the homestand.

Gone from the roster since the team left town are: Cole Irvin, Edubray Ramos, Nick Williams and Adam Haseley, who are all with the Phillies. Austin Davis and Rob Brantly went to Philadelphia and back and Fernando Salas went up to Philadelphia and was designated for assignment on Sunday to make room for newly signed Drew Smyly; it’s likely he will return to the IronPigs during this homestand. Pitchers John Curtiss and Josh Martin were both released and Alexis Rivero went on the IL with a right forearm strain.

There are two new faces that you will want to take note of on the roster. One is a young pitcher looking to move to the majors and the other is a veteran major leaguer hoping to return to the majors.

Pitcher Damon Jones, who opened the season with Clearwater and then moved to Double-A Reading prior to being promoted to the IronPigs on July 14. The 24-year-old left-hander was 5-3 with a 1.34 ERA in 15 starts when he was promoted to the IronPigs. His first outing at Lehigh Valley went pretty well when he threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs. His last start was a horror show; eight earned runs in one inning of work against Norfolk.

Meanwhile, first baseman/outfielder Logan Morrison joined the team the following day after signing a minor league deal with the Phillies. Morrison homered on the first pitch he saw as an IronPig and is batting .417 (5-for-12) in six games with Lehigh Valley, having driven in five runs. He opted out of his minor league deal with the Yankees and signed on with the Phillies. With the RailRiders this season, the 31-year old hit 15-37-.341/.658/.999 in 43 games.

Catcher Deivy Grullon was activated from the IL on July 13. The catching prospect was chosen to play in both the Triple-A All-Star Game and to compete in the Triple-A Home Run Derby, but missed both opportunities with a fractured toe.

Edgar Garcia was optioned to Lehigh Valley by the Phillies on Friday and pitcher Josh Tols returned to the IronPigs after having been dropped down to Double-A Reading on July 4th. Tols threw four shutout innings with Reading and owns a 7.08 ERA in 14 games with Lehigh Valley this season. Seth McGarry also returned to the Pigs on Friday after having been sent to Reading on June 15.

WHEN YOU’RE HOT, YOU’RE HOT ... Since the ‘Pigs last played at home, Phil Gosselin has been the hottest IronPig that was with the team on the last homestand. Gosselin is hitting .360 in his last 11 games with two doubles, two triples and two home runs, while driving in seven runs and posting a .400 on-base percentage. Austin Listi (.357) is hot on his tail and has five doubles and three home runs with a team-high 14 RBI on the last road trip. Salas had 4 2/3 shutout innings prior to joining the Phillies and since beind designated for assignment. Tyler Gilbert had a 1.50 ERA in five relief appearances with the IronPigs since leaving town.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT, YOU’RE NOT ... Among players who played in at least five games on the road trip, Matt McBride has the lowest average at .087 (2-for-23) in eight games. Mitch Walding is also below the Mendoza-Line at .194 (6-for-31). No one in the starting rotation pitched consistently well on the road trip. The “best” performance came from Enyel De Los Santos, who is 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA in his last three starts. Ramon Rosso has an ERA of 7.00, Tyler Viza posted a 9.35 ERA and Damon Jones had a 14.21 ERA on the road trip. Among the relievers, Kyle Dohy pitched in four games and posted a 14.29 ERA in 5 2/3 innings.