The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (37-39) and the Rochester Red Wings (36-40) played game three of a six-game series on Friday night from Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs came into this game tied 1-1 in the series. On Thursday night, Lehigh Valley’s offense scored 12 runs to beat Rochester in game one.
Drew Hutchison (0-1, 11.45 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley making his fourth start against Rochester’s Joan Adon (2-5, 4.84 ERA).
After two scoreless innings to start the game, Lehigh Valley struck first in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Jake Cave hit Adon’s fastball that just cleared the wall at left field for his 13th home run of the season. It was 1-0 Lehigh Valley and the 44th RBI for Cave this year.
Weston Wilson was next. He tripled on a fly ball to center field with Darick Hall next. Hall brought Wilson home with a sacrifice fly to center field that made it 2-0 Lehigh Valley. The inning ended when Drew Ellis flies out toward left fielder Blake Rutherford.
Hutchison got into trouble at the top of the fourth inning. He gave up a double to Nomar Mazara. Two batters later, he hit Drew Millas with one out. Later, he walked Richie Martin that loaded the bases for Jake Alu with two outs. Hutchison got Alu to fly out toward center fielder Simon Muzziotti which ended the inning.
Moving to the top of the sixth inning, Hutchison gave up a double to Jake Noll with one out. Two batters later, Erick Mejia was up to bat with two outs. During his at-bat, Hutchison threw a wild pitch that moved Noll to third base. Then, Mejia singled on a sharp ground ball toward Darick Hall. Mehia beat Hall to the first base bag while Noll scored. It was now 2-1 Lehigh Valley.
That was it for Hutchison, who pitched 5.2 innings, allowing five hits, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts in 93 pitches, of which 59 were strikes. Jacob Barnes was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher. He got Richie Martin to fly out toward left fielder Weston Wilson for the final out of the inning.
Lehigh Valley got the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning. It started when Joan Adon walked Weston Wilson. With one out and Drew Ellis batting, Wilson stole second base but Ellis grounded out toward third baseman Jake Alu. Alu kept a close eye on Wilson before making the throw to first baseman Travis Blankenhorn. Wilson stayed at second base.
Simon Muzziotti was up next with two outs. He singled on a line drive to right field that brought Wilson home. It was now 3-1 Lehigh Valley. Rafael Marchan had a chance to keep the inning going but grounded out which ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley threatened to add more runs. Tim Cate was the new Rochester pitcher. He gave up back-to-back singles to Esteban Quiroz and Scott Kingery. Two batters later, the Red Wings changed pitchers with Luis Reyes in for Cate with two outs and Weston Wilson up to bat. Wilson struck out swinging which ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley’s lead disappeared at the top of the eighth inning with Taylor Lehman pitching. With one out, Lehman walked Nomar Mazara. Next, Jake Noll doubled on a fly ball off the wall at left field that scored Mazara and it was now 3-2 Lehigh Valley. Then, Drew Millas tied the game 3-3 with an RBI double to center field which scored Noll.
Erick Mejia was next to bat for Rochester. He tripled on a sharp line drive to center field that scored Millas which put the Red Wings up 4-3. Lehman was replaced by Trey Cobb. Richie Martin was next. He hit the ball toward Scott Kingery. Kingery threw the ball to catcher Rafael Marchan at home plate to get Mejia out with Jake Alu up to bat. However, Alu did not get a chance to bat when Martin got caught stealing second base which ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley needed to respond in the bottom of the eighth inning. Darick Hall started the inning by working a four-pitch walk. Jim Haley came in to pinch-run for Hall.
Two batters later with one out, Simon Muzziotti was next. During his at-bat, Haley stole second base. Muzziotti singled on a ground ball to shortstop Richie Martin to beat the throw at first base with Haley going to third base for Rafael Marchan.
Rochester changed pitchers with Gerson Moreno replacing Luis Reyes. During Marchan’s at-bat, Muzziotti stole second base. Marchan brought home Haley with a sacrifice fly to center field. The game was tied 4-4. Esteban Quiroz had a chance to put Lehigh Valley in the lead but lined out toward right fielder Nomar Mazara which ended the inning.
Jace Vines was the new IronPigs pitcher at the top of the ninth inning. He gave up a single to Travis Blankenhorn with one out. Next, Blake Rutherford singled to left field that moved Blankenhorn to second base. Two batters later with two outs, Nomar Mazara singled to left field that scored Blankenhorn to put Rochester back up 5-4. Jake Noll grounded out to pitcher Jace Vines. Vines made the throw to first baseman Jim Haley that ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley had more chance to either tie the game or win it in the bottom of the ninth inning. Scott Kingery gave the IronPigs hope to start the inning with a single. However, no one could bring Kingery home and the IronPigs lost the game 5-4 to the Red Wings.
Lehigh Valley’s offense was decent. They finished the night with ten hits, went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base.
As for the pitching, not so much. Drew Hutchison pitched a good game. The bullpen blew their 39th lead of the season which leads the International League.
In these one-run games, Lehigh Valley needs to have their best bullpen guys out there. Right now, they are Ben Bowden (1-1, 4.18 ERA, 3 saves), Andrew Bellatti (1-0, 1.50 ERA), 2 saves), and Luis Ortiz (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 2 saves). These pitcher’s stats are not mind-blowing but they are better than the ones who pitched tonight.
Jace Vines lost his third game of the year for Lehigh Valley, while Rochester pitcher Gerson Moreno won his fifth game of the season.
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game three on Saturday at 6:35 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
