Jorge Bonifacio’s solo home run lifted the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (34-41) to a 3-2 victory Friday night over the Rochester Red Wings (30-43). Tyler Alexander (2-2, 5.29 ERA) started for Lehigh Valley against Matt Tomshaw (0-1, 22.09 ERA).
Jorge Bonifacio put the IronPigs up 1-0 at the top of the first inning with a solo home run over the left field wall. Then, Rochester responded in the bottom of the first inning when left fielder Jake Noll hit a solo home run to left center field that tied the game 1-1.
Tyler Alexander finished the night (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) before Damon Jones came in the bottom of the sixth inning.
At the top of the eighth inning, with a runner on second base, IronPigs left fielder Charlie Tilson hit an RBI triple to right field that put Lehigh Valley back up 2-1. Then, second baseman Nick Maton drove in Tilson with an RBI single for a 3-1 lead. The Red Wings made it a one-run game 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI single by third baseman Ali Castillo.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the IronPigs brought in Mauricio Llovera to close the game. He got the three outs, and Lehigh Valley defeated Rochester 3-2.
IronPigs pitcher Damon Jones (2.0 IP, 2 BB, 4 SO) picked up his first win of the season, and the loss went to Red Wings pitcher Nick Wells (0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB). Mauricio Llovera (1.0 IP) earned his fourth save of the season.
Both teams will play a doubleheader today with game one from Frontier Field at 4:35 pm. Game two will start thirty minutes after game one. The game one starters are David Paulino (3-2, 4.08 ERA) of Lehigh Valley against Rochester’s Sean Nolin (3-3, 4.35 ERA).
