Some positive Phillies-related news for you this morning. You remember those two guys in the photo above, I’m sure. It’s J.P. Crawford and Aaron Altherr. They helped the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs win the team’s first International League North crown last night. It was Crawford who delivered the game-winning walk-off hit:

It was a nice moment in a season of many difficult ones for the Phillies’ former top prospect. Crawford is hitting just .138 with the Iron Pigs since being optioned to AAA back on August 14.

Jerad Eickhoff, who hasn’t appeared in a game with the Phillies since August 30 of last season, went six shutout innings as he continues to work his way back from a mysterious hand injury which has caused periodic tingling in two fingers of his pitching hand. He did so wearing these jerseys for the team’s “Salute to Philadelphia” night:

Gimmicky, but fresh.

Former Eagles kicker David Akers was also on hand for the festivities, and he kicked some souvenirs into the stands:

As for Eickhoff, I would imagine that we will see him back in Philadelphia at some point before season’s end, but how he would fit is unclear at the moment. He could potentially fill a spot in the rotation should one of the Phillies’ current starters develop an injury or falter. Nick Pivetta, who allowed five earned runs in 6.2 IP against the Blue Jays yesterday, has a 5.22 ERA since the All-Star break. While he has been inconsistent, I’m not sure that replacing him with a guy who hasn’t appeared in a Major League game in nearly a year during what one might loosely call a pennant race is ideal, either.

Anyway, I digress. Go Iron Pigs.