The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (50-48) played game four of a six-game series from Innovative Field on Friday night against the Rochester Red Wings (53-45). Lehigh Valley pitcher Nick Nelson (2-3, 7.98 ERA) was on the mound against Rochester’s Thaddeus Ward (4-3, 6.16 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when catcher Rafael Marchan grounded into a 4-6-3 double play scoring Cal Stevenson for a 1-0 lead. It was Marchan’s ninth RBI of the season.
Three batters later, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when designated hitter Kody Clemens hit an RBI single to center field scoring Darick Hall for a 2-0 lead. It was Clemens’s 29th RBI of the year. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Rochester had a runner on second base with two outs when left fielder Travis Blankenhorn hit Nelson’s fastball for a two-run home run clearing the wall at right field and the game was tied 2-2. Nelson struck out Brady House to end the inning.
At the top of the third inning with one out, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when third baseman Buddy Kennedy brought Jim Haley home with a sacrifice fly to center field putting the IronPigs back up 3-2. A ground out by Rafael Marchan ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Rochester had a runner on third base with one out when center fielder Alex Call hit an RBI double to left field scoring Dylan Crews, and the game was tied 3-3. Two batters later with two outs, Rochester third baseman Brady House hit an RBI single to right field scoring Alex Call and the Red Wings took a 4-3 lead. A flyout by first baseman Joey Meneses ended the inning.
Nick Nelson (3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 K) threw 56 pitches, of which 38 were strikes. Max Castillo was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the fourth inning. Castillo (1.0 IP, 2 BB, 1 K) threw 21 pitches, of which 11 were strikes.
In the bottom of the fifth inning with one out, Rochester left fielder Travis Blankenhorn crushed Castillo’s changeup for a solo home run clearing the wall at right field extending the Red Wings lead 5-3. It was Blankenhorn’s 22nd home run of the season. Rochester did not add any more runs in the inning. Castillo (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K) threw 46 pitches, of which 25 were strikes.
At the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on third base when right field Carlos De La Cruz hit a fly ball toward center fielder Alex Call, who missed the catch and Kody Clemens scored and Cruz ran to first base. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Max Castillo (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K) threw 58 pitches, of which 33 were strikes. Max Lazar was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rochester had runners on first and second base with one out when first baseman Joey Meneses hit Lazar’s cutter for a three-run home run over the wall at center field extending the Red Wings lead to 8-4.
A ground out by Drew Millas and Lazar striking out Carter Kieboom ended the inning. Max Lazar (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K) threw 24 pitches, of which nine were strikes.
Ricardo Pinto was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rochester had runners on the corners with one out when left fielder Travis Blankenhorn hit a two-run RBI single to right field scoring Jack Dunn and Darren Baker for a 10-4 lead.
Pinto struck out Brady House and a flyout by Joey Meneses ended the inning. Pinto (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K) threw 37 pitches, of which 23 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley had one more chance at the top of the ninth inning against Rico Garcia. With two outs, Lehigh Valley catcher Rafael Marchan worked a four-pitch walk. Then, first baseman Darick Hall hit Garcia’s fastball for a two-run home run over the wall at right field and the IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 10-6.
The home run went 357 feet with an exit velocity of 98.6 mph. It was Hall’s 11th home run of the season and 52nd RBI of the year. Scott Kingery was up next to bat but he struck out swinging and the game was over. The IronPigs lost to the Red Wings 10-6. The series is tied at two games apiece.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with seven hits and committed two errors. The loss went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Nick Nelson for his fourth loss of the season, and the win went to Rochester starter Thaddeus Ward.
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game five of the six-game series on Saturday at 6:45 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo. Also, pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Rally House.
