The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (56-63) and the Rochester Red Wings (68-53) played game three of a six-game series on Thursday night from Coca-Cola Park. Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel (3-8, 5.83 ERA) was on the mound against Rochester’s Andrew Alvarez (3-3, 4.34 ERA).
At the top of the second inning, Rochester had runners on second and third base with one out when Jake Alu hit a two-run RBI single to center field scoring Drew Millas and Carter Kieboom for a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Jake Dunn hit an RBI single to left field scoring Jake Alu for a 3-0 lead. Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel got back-to-back ground outs from Dylan Crews and Darren Baker to end the inning.
At the top of the third inning, Rochester had runners on first and second base when Drew Millas hit an RBI double to left field scoring Travis Blankenhorn for a 4-0 lead. Brady House tried to score from third base but he was called out. Mick Abel struck out Carter Kieboom and a ground out by Jake Alu ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base with two outs when second baseman Jim Haley hit a two-run RBI double center field scoring Buddy Kennedy and Cody Roberts and the IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 4-2. It was Haley’s 30th RBI of the season. Right fielder Carlos De La Cruz struck out swinging and the inning was over.
At the top of the fifth inning, Rochester had a runner on third base with one out when Drew Millas hit an RBI single to left field scoring Travis Blankenhorn for a 5-2 lead. Carter Kieboom grounded into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play. Mick Abel (5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) threw 92 pitches, of which 67 were strikes, and Andrew Bellatti (0.2 IP, 1 K) threw 7 pitches, of which 6 were strikes.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base with one out when center fielder Ryan McKenna hit an RBI double to left field scoring Buddy Kennedy and the IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 5-3. It was McKenna’s fifth double of the season and 19th RBI of the season. Lehigh Valley did not add any more runs in the inning.
Michael Rucker was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the seventh inning. Rochester had the bases loaded with two outs when Jake Alu cleared the bases with a three-run double to right field for an 8-3 lead. A ground out by Brady Lindsly ended the inning. Rucker (1.0 IP, 3H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) threw 28 pitches, of which 17 were strikes.
At the top of the eighth inning with a runner on first base and one out, Lehigh Valley replaced Michael Rucker with Jonah Dipoto. With two outs, Rochester left fielder Travis Blankenhorn hit Dipoto’s cutter for a two-run home run over the wall at right-center field for a 10-3 lead.
Three batters later, Rochester had runners on first and second base when Carter Kieboom hit an RBI single to center field scoring Brady House for an 11-3 lead. A flyout by Jake Alu ended the inning. Michael Rucker (1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) threw 34 pitches, of which 21 were strikes, and Jonah Dipoto (0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB) threw 21 pitches, of which 14 were strikes.
Blaine Knight was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Rochester had runners on first and second base when Dylan Crews hit an RBI single to right field scoring Brady Lindsly for a 12-3 lead. Rochester did not add any more runs in the inning. Knight (1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K) threw 25 pitches, of which 14 were strikes.
Ty Tice was the new pitcher for Rochester in the bottom of the ninth inning. Lehigh Valley designated hitter Cody Roberts walked with one out before a ground out by Jim Haley and Carlos De La Cruz struck out swinging for the final out of the game.
The IronPigs lost to the Red Wings 12-3. They have now lost six straight games and are 0-3 in the series. Lehigh Valley finished the night with 5 hits and committed three errors. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel for his ninth loss of the season, and the win went to Rochester starter Andrew Alvarez.
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game four on Friday at 7:05 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo.
