The IronPigs go up. The IronPigs go down.

Getting into any prolonged groove has been difficult for Lehigh Valley this season.

Fortunately, the Pigs have also avoided any sort of prolonged skid that would send them to the depths of the International League standings.

Their longest winning streak and longest losing streak of the season both stand at two, and they have won two straight twice this season while dropping a pair three times through their first 24 games. Prior to losing four of six games against Charlotte at home last week, Lehigh Valley had split its last two six-game series.

On the downside, the IronPigs pitching and fielding have been suspect.

The team pitching stats have them 16th in the 20-team IL with starters posting a 4.61 ERA. Part of that problem comes from the 56 walks they have issued in 123 innings of work.

Highly-touted pitching prospect Mick Abel has a 5.60 ERA, and Kolby Allard - who at one time was a thought for the fifth spot in the Phillies rotation - has a 7.71 ERA in his three starts. He also had the dubious distinction of balking twice in a 10-pitch sequence in his start against Charlotte.

Lehigh Valley’s defense has fallen off a cliff. A team that sported a strong defensive showing last season has been kicking the ball around to the tune of nearly an error per game with 21 miscues in 24 games this season. The end result comes to 18 unearned runs.

The catching tandem of Aramis Garcia and Jose Godoy have bucked the defensive trends this season. The pair lead the team rankings with 16 runners thrown out attempting to steal. They also have just one error and two passed balls between them.

Overall, Lehigh Valley is 11-13 this season - marking the first time this season they have been two games under the .500 mark. After 24 games last season, the IronPigs were 12-12, so not much has changed. Like the big league club, most of the faces on the team are the same ones who were here last season, although some of those players have looked very different.

The poster child for change is infielder Weston Wilson. It was a year ago that Wilson got the call to the majors for the first time and homered in his first at-bat with the Phillies. He wound up back with Lehigh Valley for most of the season but ended up hitting a franchise-record 31 home runs for the IronPigs.

Now, just one season later, Wilson’s average (.154) and on-base percentage (.258) are about 100 points below where he finished last season, and his slugging percentage of .218 does not compare well to his final slugging percentage of .515 last season.

Garcia and Godoy are earning their pay with their defense. Offensively, the duo has hit just .157 (14-for-89) at the plate through the first 24 games.

And the list of struggling pitchers does not stop with Abel and Allard. Griff McGarry, another respected prospect, was bumped from being a starter in the past to working out of the bullpen and has not found his way as a reliever. McGarry has a 5.79 ERA and has walked four batters in 9 1/3 innings. On the bright side, he does have 14 strikeouts.

Lehigh Valley goes on the road for the week to visit Worcester (11-15).

THE HEAD COUNT … The IronPigs welcomed their nine-millionth fan to the ballpark on Saturday. The honor was bestowed on Mike Henahan, who had brought his family to the game. Henahan was given an IronPigs “gold standard” jersey with 9-Million for a nameplate, and the family was upgraded to the “Best Seats in the House” seating area, and received other prizes for gaining the distinction.

EARLY BIRDS … The IronPigs return next Tuesday, but you’re going to have to get up early and probably have to call in sick to make it to the game. The day marks the first Education Day game of the season and begins at 11 a.m. to accommodate the numerous young fans who will be at the ballpark as part of one of the numerous school groups who attend the game.