On Saturday night at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs took on the Rochester Red Wings in game five of the series. The IronPigs looked to build momentum after their come-from-behind win Friday night.
Michael Plassmeyer (0-0, 3.31 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Red Wings started Sterling Sharp (1-3, 5.77 ERA).
In the bottom of the first inning, Dalton Guthrie started the inning with a ground out, followed by back-to-back singles from Johan Camargo and Donny Sands, with Dustin Peterson up next. Peterson doubled on a ground ball to right field, scoring Camargo for a 1-0 lead.
IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey was next. He singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Sands and Peterson, but was caught in a rundown and got tagged out. The score was 3-0 IronPigs. The inning would end on Jorge Bonifacio’s ground out to shortstop Ildemaro Vargas, who threw the ball to Joey Meneses.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the sixth inning, IronPigs’ catcher Donny Sands singled on a fly ball to center field. After Dustin Peterson flied out for the first out, IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey singled on a sharp fly ball to right field, and Sands went to second base, with Jorge Bonifacio up next.
Red Wings pitcher Sterling Sharp walked Bonifacio to load the bases before getting Daniel Robertson to pop out for the second out. IronPigs’ second baseman Scott Kingery was coming to the plate. He singled on a fly ball to left field, scoring Sands and Ockimey for a 5-0 lead. Jefry Rodriguez replaced Sharp and got Chris Sharpe to fly out, ending the inning.
IronPigs’ starter Michael Plassmeyer had a fantastic game. He gave up three hits in the first six innings. Plassmeyer recorded the first out when he got Joey Meneses to ground out to third baseman Daniel Robertson as he secured the ball and threw it over to Josh Ockimey for the out. That would be it for Plassmeyer, who received a standing ovation from the crowd. He went 6.1 innings, allowing three hits, no runs, no walks, and five strikeouts on 74 pitches.
Ryan Sherriff replaced him. If the plan was to pull Plassmeyer after the one batter, they should’ve pulled him before the inning started. Otherwise, keep him in the game and let him pitch one more inning.
Ryan Sherriff allowed back-to-back singles to Josh Palacios and Jake Noll. After striking out Nick Banks, Sherriff gave up a single to Tyler Gushue, scoring a run that put Rochester on the board, 5-1. Finally, Sherriff struck out Adrian Sanchez, swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Rochester’s Jefry Rodriguez hit Johan Camargo with one out. Then, IronPigs’ catcher Donny Sands doubled on a fly ball to right field. With Dustin Peterson up at-bat, he was intentionally walked that loaded the bases. Jefry Rodriguez was pulled, and Luis Avilan was the new pitcher.
IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey stepped up to the plate. On a 3-0 count, Avilan walked Ockimey, forcing in a run, 6-1 with Jorge Bonifacio coming to the plate. He popped up to right field, where outfielder Nick Banks could not locate the ball. Jake Noll chased after it, but the ball dropped on the ground, and another run scored, 7-1.
Two batters later, Scott Kingery came to the plate with two outs. He singled on a soft ground ball to third baseman Adrian Sanchez, and Kingery beat out the throw, while another run scored, 8-1. IronPigs’ left fielder Chris Sharpe was next to bat. On a 3-2 count, Luis Avilan walked Sharpe, and Josh Ockimey scored for a 9-1 lead. Finally, Dalton Guthrie flied out to end the inning.
At the top of the eighth inning, Braeden Ogle replaced Ryan Sherriff. Sherriff went 0.2 innings, allowing three hits, one run, no walks, and two strikeouts on 23 pitches. Ogle went one inning with no hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout.
At the top of the ninth inning, James Dykstra closed out the game. He gave up one walk but got the last three outs, and the IronPigs won the game 9-1. They are now 45-38 on the season, while the Red Wings dropped to 43-40.
The win went to IronPigs starter Michael Plassmeyer for his first of the season, and the loss went to Red Wings starter Sterling Sharp. It was Sharp’s third loss of the year.
The IronPigs have a chance to win the series today at 5:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
