By CRAIG POTTER
Rochester misses several chances to plate the tying run in the 4-3 loss to the IronPigs.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The two hottest teams in the International League continued their series on Friday night as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs ended the Rochester Red Wings’ 7-game win streak with a , 4-3 victory before a paid crowd of 6,428 fans at Frontier Field.
The Red Wings squandered three opportunities to tie the game as they had the tying run at third base in the second, fifth, and ninth innings but were unable to get the run home.
“In search of a big hit,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade. “And we had chances…We just need to find a way to push across a couple of more runs.
“When the starters were done, I kind of had a feeling this was going to be, can somebody scratch for an extra run, and we just couldn’t. ”
Rochester starting pitcher Matt Tracy got off to a rocky start in the first inning as J.P. Crawford doubled with one out, and came home on a single by Rhys Hoskins.
“Tracy did not have his best night,” Quade said. “He got us deep enough into the game where we could use those two guys in the bullpen and save the rest of our bullpen.”
The Red Wings put two runners on base in the home half, but left them stranded. In the second, Tommy Field led off with a double and moved to third on a fly out to right. However, once again his teammates were unable to bring him home.
Lehigh Valley upped its lead in the third with three runs for a 4-0 advantage.
Rochester responded in the home half on back-to-back singles by Zack Granite and Mitch Garver, and a walk to Matt Hague loaded the bases. ByungHo Park’s two-run single down the first base line cut the deficit in half, 4-2. Two batters later John Ryan Murphy brought home Hague with a single on what proved to be the final run of the game.
After hitting Nick Williams in the top of the fifth, Tracy’s night came to a close when he was relieved by John Curtiss, who was making his Triple-A debut. He retired all 7 batters he face while striking out three IronPigs. Curtiss also was the 32nd hurler to pitch for Rochester this season.
“I was just throwing my fastball and my slider. I didn’t hardly change-up tonight,” Curtiss said.
“I think he’s your typical bullpen guy in this day and age,” Quade said.
J.B. Shuck began the bottom of the fifth with a single an error by rookie left fielder Andrew Pullin allowed him to scampered around to third. But once again the Wings squandered the opportunity with the 4, 5, and 6 hitters coming up as they all made out.
Jake Reed added two scoreless relief innings as the Rochester bullpen held the Lehigh Valley hit-less after third inning.
The Wings put runners at first and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but a ground out to first ended the game.
Rochester played well defensively. Shortstop Engelb Vielma made a great play behind the bag at second and threw off-balance to get batter Osmel Aguila out at first in the fifth inning.
“Vielma made an unbelievable play,” Quade said.
The Red Wings out-hit Lehigh Valley, 11-7, which was just the opposite of Thursday night when the IronPigs outhit Rochester, 13-11, in the 4-2 Wings victory.
*NOTES – RHP Dillon Gee and RHP Trevor Hildenberger have been called up to Minnesota. Hildenberger’s parents had come in from California to see him play so he was able to tell them in person of his call-up. He joined the Twins in Cleveland and pitched in the game. Gee was the scheduled Rochester starter for Friday, but then the call came to join the Twins…LHP Matt Tracy and RHP John Curtiss were promoted to Rochester from Double-A Chattanooga…Zack Granite collected 3 hits as he has hit in 21 of his last 22 games…Mitch Garver extended his hitting streak to 8 games…ByungHo Park has gone 29 games now without a home run…Matt Hague extended his hitting streak to 11 games…The series continues Saturday night at 7:05 pm with an appearance by “Gotham” star Camren Bicondova on Batman Night, including bat-fireworks after the game.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Mitch Garver at bat in 9th – https://youtu.be/wu9atcFircA
John Curtiss interview – https://youtu.be/5py5eCi5jiQ
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/vJLkCHxoOrM