The IronPigs returned home this week with the second-best record in the International League East Division at 34-26, just one game behind Rochester (35-25).

Lehigh Valley had picked up four games over its last 10 outings by going 7-3, while the Red Wings and Buffalo both went 3-7. The Bisons - the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays - opened up the first of two six-game series at Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday and registered a 3-2 victory in the opener to jump a half-game up on the Pigs in the standings.

During its 12-game road trip, Lehigh Valley has undergone a number of changes to its roster. Catcher Austin Wynns was traded to San Francisco, where he was added to the 26-man roster with the Giants and has five hits in 12 at-bats for a .417 average.

Also traded was pitcher Michael Mariot, who was dealt to the Tigers for cash considerations. In 11 starts with the Pigs this year, Mariot was 4-1 with a 4.64 ERA.

In exchange for Wynns, the Phillies received starting pitcher Michael Plassmeyer. The 25-year old lefty was initially drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 Draft by the Seattle Mariners, and is in his first season at the Triple-A level. He made his first start with Lehigh Valley on Friday and threw five shutout innings, striking out four batters. It was a stark contrast from how he had pitched at Triple-A Sacramento where he played under former IronPigs manager Dave Brundage. With the River Cats, Plassmeyer was 0-6 with a 7.38 ERA.

Also gone is outfielder John Andreoli, who was dealt to the Minnesota Twins and assigned to Triple-A St. Paul. With Lehigh Valley, Andreoli hit just .154 in 36 games, and is not faring any better in the Twins organization, where he is batting just .105 in seven games.

James Marvel - who made four starts with the Pirates in 2019 - was expected to be a workhorse for the IronPigs starting rotation, but struggled horribly to open the season and saw his ERA reach a season high of 14.54 by the end of April. Marvel was bumped to the bullpen after his last start on May 25 against Worcester, and it may have helped him to turn things around. In his two relief appearances since then, Marvel has thrown four shutout innings, allowing just three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Yairo Munoz had the hot bat for Lehigh Valley, hitting .343 (12-for-35) in his last 10 games with team highs in both home runs (3) and RBI (8) during that span. On Tuesday, Munoz was called up to the Phillies and was in their starting lineup. Taking his place on the roster was Mickey Moniak, who was struggling in Philadelphia.

Infielder Ali Castillo was promoted to Lehigh Valley from Double-A Reading, and catcher Freddy Francisco, 21, who was playing in the Phillies Florida Complex League, was also added to the roster when Herbert Iser was demoted. Francisco played last season with Clearwater, Jersey Shore and Lehigh Valley, but his stint included just 24 games overall. Francisco will serve as the third catcher on the roster behind Rafael Marchan and Edgar Cabral.

25 YEARS AGO

… After being without minor league baseball since 1960, the game returned to the Lehigh Valley in 1997 when the Allentown Ambassadors took the field at Bicentennial Park. The independent league team played seven seasons before folding just prior to the 2004 season. In many ways, the Ambassadors paved the way for affiliated minor league ball and the IronPigs in the valley, by proving that fans would turn out for minor league sports. The IronPigs will hold a reunion of Ambassadors players and show video clips of interviews with former players, staff members and reporters prior to the game and throughout the game on Wednesday night as they salute the 25th anniversary of the “Ams.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS

… After the six games with Buffalo, Lehigh Valley will welcome the Norfolk Tides (Orioles) to Coca-Cola Park for six games starting next Tuesday. Norfolk is 30-30 on the season, five games out of first in the IL East.

LOOKING BACK

… The Pigs had a 4-2 trip to Omaha (Royals) to play the Storm Chasers (29-29) last week. The games were the first ever for Lehigh Valley in Nebraska, and followed a 5-1 trip to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees).