The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (0-1) returned to Coca-Cola Park on Wednesday night to start a six-game homestand against the Rochester Red Wings (1-0). It is the second meeting of the season.
In addition, this game started the second half of the regular season. All records were set to 0-0. The Norfolk Tides won the first half division and qualifies for the playoffs. The IronPigs finished with a record of 36-37. Whoever wins the second-half division makes the playoffs.
The two teams met on opening day in Rochester with the IronPigs winning the game 2-1. Unfortunately, they were unable to play game two due to inclement weather. The IronPigs entered this game with a two-game losing streak and 3-7 in their last ten games.
Nick Nelson (0-1, 3.21 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his fifth start of the season against Rochester’s Jackson Rutledge (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
It did not take long for Rochester to take the lead at the top of the first inning. Nick Nelson gave up a single to Jake Alu. Next, Alex Call hit the ball softly toward Nelson. Nelson picked up the ball but threw it wide to Darick Hall which allowed Call and Alu to move up an extra base. A throwing error was charged to Nelson.
Blake Rutherford was up next for Rochester. He grounded toward Darick Hall for the first out but Alu scored that put the Red Wings up 1-0. Then, Franmil Reyes extended Rochester’s lead to 3-0 with a two-run home run off Nelson’s slider and onto the berm at center field.
Nelson got out of the inning with a groundout from Travis Blankenhorn and a flyout by Matt Adams toward left fielder Simon Muzziotti, who made the catch that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning with one out, Jackson Rutledge walked Weston Wilson. With Darick Hall batting, Wilson stole second base. It was his 17th stolen base of the year.
However, Hall could not move Wilson to third base with a fly out to center fielder Alex Call for the second out. The ball was not deep enough for Wilson to advance. After Drew Ellis walked, the inning ended on a line out by Simon Muzziotti toward right fielder Blake Rutherford.
Moving to the top of the third inning, Rochester added two more runs. Jake Alu started the inning with a single to center field. Two batters later with one out, Blake Rutherford hit Nelson’s fastball 105 mph off the bat and onto the berm 414 feet at center field. It was now 5-0 Rochester.
After Nelson gave up two more singles, the inning ended when Matt Adams grounded toward second baseman Scott Kingery. Kingery tossed the ball to Wilson at second base before Wilson made the throw over to first baseman Darick Hall that completed the inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the third inning, Lehigh Valley got on the board with two outs when Darick Hall hit a solo home run just clearing the wall at left field. It was now 5-1 Rochester. Drew Ellis was next but struck out swinging which ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley carried the momentum into the bottom of the fourth inning. Rochester pitcher Jackson Rutledge walked Simon Muzziotti to begin the inning. Two batters later, he walked Esteban Quiroz, followed by a single from Scott Kingery which loaded the bases for Cal Stevenson. Stevenson grounded toward shortstop Richie Martin for the forceout at second base while Muzziotti scored. It was now 5-2 with two outs for Jake Cave.
Rutledge walked Jake Cave which reloaded the bases again for Weston Wilson. The Red Wings took Rutledge out and replaced him with Andres Machado. Wilson singled off Machado’s fastball and into center field bringing Quiroz and Stevenson home. It was now 5-4 Rochester with two outs and Darick Hall coming to bat.
Hall singled to center field which nearly hit Machado. Luckily, Machado ducked out of the way and Jake Cave scored. The game was now tied 5-5. Drew Ellis had a chance to keep the inning going but he struck out swinging that ended the inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, Luis F. Ortiz was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. Nick Nelson finished the night pitching six innings, allowing eight hits, five runs, three walks, and three strikeouts in 78 pitches, of which 46 were strikes.
After Nelson gave up the five runs, he settled down to pitch three scoreless innings. Ortiz gave up a single to Jake Alu with one out. Then, Ortiz struck out Alex Call and Blake Rutherford which ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the ninth inning, Ben Bowden was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley. He gave up a single to Richie Martin. Then, Jake Alu reached first base on a fielding error by Bowden with nobody out. Two batters later, Blake Rutherford singled to left field which scored Martin and Alu. It was now 7-5 Red Wings. Two batters later, Bowden walked Travis Blankenhorn with two outs before striking out Matt Adams that ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley had one more chance to keep the game going in the bottom of the ninth inning. Weston Wilson started the inning by reaching first base on a fielding error from shortstop Richie Martin. Darick Hall stepped up to the plate. He doubled on a sharp line drive to the corner of right field which scored Wilson and made it a one-run game 7-6. It was Hall’s sixth double of the season.
Jim Haley came in to pinch-run for Hall with Drew Ellis next. Unfortunately, Lehigh Valley could not bring Haley home and the IronPigs lost to the Red Wings by the final score of 7-6.
Lehigh Valley had some good moments tonight. Darick Hall went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and Weston Wilson went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. However, they committed two errors in the game with one of them leading to the winning runs by Rochester. They finished the night with seven hits, went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base.
Lehigh Valley pitcher Ben Bowden lost his first game of the year for Lehigh Valley, while Rochester pitcher Gerson Moreno won his fourth game of the year.
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game two on Thursday night at 7:05 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
