The IronPigs notch a 13-6 victory to spoil Rochester’s home opener.
By CRAIG POTTER / C&C Sports Director
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Lehigh Valley IronPigs continued their dominance over the Rochester Red Wings as the visitors from Allentown, PA., spoiled the Wings’ home opener Thursday night with a 13-6 victory.
Rochester starting pitcher Lewis Thorpe had another tough outing as he was tagged for 6 runs on 7 hits in 4.2 innings. He also issued 5 walks and struck out 5 batters.
The bullpen didn’t fare much better as Ryan Eades (1), DJ Baxendale (6), and Mike Morin gave up the remaining runs. Though Morin did not give up a run, an error by first baseman Wilin Rosario, on the first batter he faced, resulted in the final 2 runs for the ‘Pigs crossing the plate.
On the positive side for the Wings, Luke Raley belted his first Triple-A home run, a 3-run, 390-foot shot in the fourth inning over the right field fence.
“I hit a change-up,” Raley said. “I was looking for something to drive over the plate, and he gave it to me.”
When asked about adjusting to the cold temperature, Raley added with a laugh, “I went to a D2 school in Cleveland and we played in snow all the time.”
Raley caught the IronPigs by surprise in the 8th inning with a bunt single down the third base line.
“That’s something I’ve been working on,” he said. “A lot of people like to put the shift on when I’m up, and if they move the third baseman away before two strikes, I’m going to try stretch it this year and get bunts down; keep that third baseman over by third base which opens up that hole up the middle.”
The Wings fell behind 4-0, but cut the deficit to 4-3 on Raley’s blast. However, the visitors tacked on 3 more runs in the fifth.
But Rochester kept battling back with single runs in the 6th and 8th, where they had the tying runs on base with 2 outs, but Tomas Telis flew out to center to end the threat.
The ‘Pigs secured the win with a 5-run 9th inning.
*NOTES — In roster moves, RHP Chase De Jong was active after being optioned by the Minnesota Twins (on April 10); RHP DJ Baxendale was reinstated from the Injured List; and RHP Sean Poppen was transferred to Double-A Pensacola…Lehigh Valley held a 37-21 advantage over the Red Wings the past 3 seasons, and the IronPigs are 4-1 vs. Rochester thus far this season…The first 1,500 fans received a reversable knit hat, which was perfect as the game never got out of the 30s, and with a guaranteed 51 degree temperature for Opening Day, the 5,845 fans in attendance each will receive a free ticket to any Red Wings home game in either April or May. The temperature at the 6:05 first pitch was 39 degrees, and went down from there…Local party band Me and the Boyz entertained fans before the game. The band was joined by WWE Hall of Famer, Wings fan, and Zweigle’s connoisseur Mick Foley, a surprise guest of the Wings at the home opener…Foley signed autographs for an inning and donated all proceeds to the local chapter of Autism Speaks, partnering with the Wings on Autism Awareness Day this Saturday…95-year-old veteran “Harmonica Pete” DuPre performed the National Anthem…Alayna Berry threw out the first pitch. The Spencerport native was the inspiration for the first-ever softball player to be featured on a pack of Big League Chew. Alayna’s grandfather, Red Wings Hall of Famer Bob Bonner, caught her first pitch.