Overall, things went well for Lehigh Valley when it shuffled off to Buffalo for last week’s slate of games. Playing a number of afternoon games scheduled to avoid the still chilly night air in the Nickel City, the Pigs went 4-2 on the trip.

It was a great series to watch, with just two of the six games having a margin of victory of more than one run, and two games going to extra innings.

The bullpen played a big role for the IronPigs, with Seth Johnson and others stepping up to get the job done. Johnson appeared in three of the games and pitched four innings without allowing a run. He also recorded a save.

Max Lazar threw three shutout innings in two outings as part of his rehab assignment, but was activated off of the IL by the Phillies and optioned to Lehigh Valley. Daniel Harper also did a nice job out of the bullpen with a 3.86 ERA in a pair of outings that covered 2 1/3 innings.

Recently signed reliever Kirby Snead (2 2/3 IP), along with Lehigh Valley product Levi Stoudt (2 IP) both gave manager Tank Adamson help out of the pen. Stoudt’s two innings were clean and he recorded three strikeouts.

Chuck King and Bryce Wilson were both impressive as starters. Wilson didn’t allow an earned run, while King allowed just one. Both did have to work through some wildness though as Wilson walked four hitters to go with his five strikeouts, and King hit two batters and walked three.

Buffalo pitchers are happy that Felix Reyes has left town. The reigning Eastern League MVP hit three home runs in the six games, had a pair of doubles, drove in eight runs and hit .310 against the Bisons. Liover Peguero came to the plate in the seventh inning of Sunday’s game with the bases loaded and Lehigh Valley down by a run and picked the perfect time to launch his first home run of the season. The slam gave the IronPigs an 8-5 lead, and their fourth victory in the series.

Rob Moore (.375), Paul McIntosh (.353), and Dylan Moore (.333) all had productive weeks in Buffalo for Lehigh Valley.

HE’S BACK … Outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr., who suffered a knee injury early in spring training, had been on a rehab assignment and worked his way up through the Phillies organization while rehabbing the knee. He was activated from the IL and assigned to Lehigh Valley. Rincones hit 18 home runs and drove in 73 runs last season with the Pigs while batting .240/.370/.430 in 119 games.

WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER … Lehigh Valley will “welcome” Rochester back to Coca-Cola Park this week, but the Red Wings shouldn’t expect their hosts to be happy to see them. Last season it was Rochester who came to town and knocked Lehigh Valley out of the top spot in the league late in the first half of the season, and ultimately cost them a playoff spot that would have come with a home playoff game. This season, Lehigh Valley is 3-9 against the Red Wings. Tables are turned this season, and Rochester is ½ game behind Memphis (St. Louis) and Nashville (Milwaukee) for the first half championship in the International League. It would be a nice time for the Pigs to throw a little stink on the Red Wings.

BERROA TO THE BIGS … Steward Berroa was recalled by the Phillies last week and picked up a key RBI in a game against San Diego. It’s not the first trip to the majors for the now former IronPigs center fielder, who has been a big leaguer with Milwaukee and Tampa Bay in the past. Berroa is filling a difficult role as a pinch-hitter for Philadelphia, a job formerly held by Otto Kemp and Felix Reyes. With Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford facing his first big slump in the majors, Berroa could find some playing time in center field.

FEAR THE SQUONK … Those who are into folklore may know about Squonk. A Squonk is a legendary Pennsylvania folklore creature and is described as a shy, pig-like animal covered in warts. The poor thing also has saggy, ill-fitting skin, and spends its time weeping because it’s ashamed of its hideous appearance. When cornered by hunters, it famously dissolves into a puddle of its own tears to escape capture. Squonk will be the alternate identity of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Saturday. Also, those who were at the last homestand may have noticed that Hambone was mysteriously missing for the pork race. Was he turned into soup broth? Perhaps eaten by a Squonk? Nobody knows, but I’m told the mystery may be solved this week.