Rochester loses for just the fourth time all season when scoring 4 or more runs.
ALLENTOWN, PA. — The Rochester Red Wings lost a back-and-forth affair, 7-6, in 10 innings Friday night against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
The Wings scored a run in the top of the 10th on a sacifice fly from Gregorio Petit, but the IronPigs scored two on a one-out bases loaded dribbler up the third base line from Matt McBride. Leonardo Reginatto fielded the dribbler and threw it away at home allowing the tying and winning runs to cross.
Rochester (41-42) falls 7.5 GB of the first-place IronPigs as they lost a game when scoring 4 or more runs for just the fourth time all season.
It was a see-saw battle all night long.
Lehigh Valley answered a first inning Red Wings run with 2 of their own courtesy of a Collin Cowgill home run.
The Wings answered right back with solo homers from LaMonte Wade in the second and Nick Gordon in the third to pull ahead, 3-2. Lehigh Valley left-handed starter Cole Irvin had allowed just 1 homer to a left-handed batter all season coming into Friday’s contest.
Rochester tacked on a run in the fifth on a Petit RBI single to extend the lead to 4-2. But the lead wouldn’t last the inning, as the ‘Pigs hung a 3-spot in the bottom half capped by ex-Wing Danny Ortiz’s solo homer.
The see-saw affair continued as the Red Wings answered right back with a 2-out RBI single from Juan Graterol in the top of the sixth to knot the game at 5-5.
The game remained that way to the 10th as both bullpens kept the offense at bay.
In the 10th, Alan Busenitz allowed a walk and hit a batter that loaded the bases. The weak dribbler up line off the bat of McBride came on an 0-2 pitch.
Kohl Stewart made his second start of the year for the Wings and allowed 5 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks.
With his 2-for-3 night, Wade extended his hitting streak to 9 games over which he’s hitting .394 (13-33) with 6 extra base hits, 2 homers, 4 RBI, and 7 runs scored.
Game Two of this three-game set is Saturday night with a 6:35 first pitch. The Wings send right-hander Zack Littell (1-3, 3.00) to the hill opposite RHP Drew Anderson (5-3, 4.15).
*NOTES — In roster moves Friday, LHP Gabriel Moya was actived after being optioned by Minnesota on July 4; and RHP Luke Bard was placed on the disabled list with a left calf strain, retroactive to July 4…The Red Wings do not return to Frontier Field until Tuesday night, July 16 against Louisville… The Red Wings are 26-16 away from Frontier Field this season, the most road wins and best road winning percentage (.619) in the league. Rochester has hit 35 of its 54 home runs (64.8%) on the road this season. The Wings are averaging 3.6 runs per game on the road compared to just 3.1 at home…Rochester’s bullpen has pitched to a 2.56 ERA (85 ER, 299.0 IP) so far this season while surrendering 109 total runs on 260 hits and 109 walks with 337 strikeouts. That ERA has risen from 2.19 over the last 35 games since May 28. Wednesday’s 6 runs allowed from relievers tied a season high allowed by the ‘pen (June 2 at Norfolk).