The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (51-48) and the Rochester Red Wings (53-46) played game five of a six-game series from Innovative Field on Saturday night. Lehigh Valley starter David Buchanan (7-3, 4.83 ERA) was on the mound against Rochester’s Andrew Alvarez (2-2, 5.55 ERA).
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base with one out when designated hitter Kody Clemens hit Alvarez’s fastball for a three-run home clearing the wall at right field for a 3-0 lead.
The home run went 380 feet with an exit velocity of 104.4 mph. It was Clemens’s eighth home run of the season and 31st 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 third base with one out when right fielder Alex Call hit an RBI double to left field scoring Dylan Crews and the Red Wings trailed the IronPigs 3-1. A flyout by Travis Blankenhorn and Brady House lined out toward left fielder Simon Muzziotti ended the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on first base when left fielder Simon Muzziotti hit a double to left field. Lehigh Valley manager Anthony Contreras waived Justin Haley home but Haley was out at home plate while Muzziotti ran to second base.
Next, Lehigh Valley catcher Cody Roberts hit an RBI single to left field scoring Muzziotti extending the IronPigs lead 4-1. It was Roberts’s 14th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley center fielder Matt Kroon worked a four-pitch walk but Scott Kingery struck out swinging and a flyout by Buddy Kennedy ended the inning.
At the top of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base with one out when right fielder Carlos De La Cruz hit an RBI single to first baseman scoring Rodolfo Castro for a 5-1 lead. It was Cruz’s eighth RBI of the season.
Two batters later, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when left fielder Simon Muzziotti hit an RBI single to left field scoring Cruz for a 6-1 lead. It was Muzziotti’s 25th RBI of the year. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners with one out when Kody Clemens grounded into a fielder’s choice to first baseman Joey Meneses. Meneses threw to home plate but Kingery beat the throw while Clemens ran to first base. The IronPigs led 7-1. It was Clemens’s 32nd RBI of the season. A pop-out by Carlos De La Cruz and a strikeout by Jim Haley ended the inning.
David Buchanan (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K) threw 94 pitches, of which 54 were strikes. Michael Mercado was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With one out, Rochester designated hitter Travis Blankenhorn hit Mercado’s fastball for a solo home run over the wall at right field and the Red Wings trailed the IronPigs 7-2. Mercado struck out Brady House and a pop-out by Joey Meneses ended the inning. Mercado (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 K) threw 22 pitches, of which 13 were strikes.
At the top of the seventh inning with two outs, Lehigh Valley shortstop Scott Kingery hit a single to center fielder Dylan Crews. The ball took a one-hop off the ground and Crews threw a dart to catcher Drew Millas to get Matt Kroon out at home plate.
Michael Mercado (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 K) threw 36 pitches, of which 23 were strikes. Tyler Gilbert was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the eighth inning. Gilbert (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 K) threw 17 pitches, of which 12 were strikes.
Gilbert pitched the bottom of the ninth inning. Rochester had runners on first and second base when Jackson Cluff grounded toward shortstop Scott Kingery scoring Drew Millas and the Red Wings trailed the IronPigs 7-3.
Then, Dylan Crews grounded toward shortstop Scott Kingery scoring Stone Garrett and it was now 7-4 Lehigh Valley. Two batters later, Gilbert struck out Alex Call and the game was over. The IronPigs beat the Red Wings 7-4. Gilbert (2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 K) threw 31 pitches, of which 22 were strikes. The IronPigs take a 3-2 series lead with one game left to play.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 16 hits. The win went to Lehigh Valley starter David Buchanan for his eighth win of the season while the loss went to Rochester pitcher Andrew Alvarez.
The IronPigs and Red Wings conclude the six-game series on Sunday at 1:05 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.
