By CRAIG POTTER
Rochester is unable to score after the 3rd inning in the 11-8 loss to the IronPigs.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The wind was blowing out at Frontier Field on Wednesday night.
A high-scoring game was anticipated under these conditions, and one resulted as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs grabbed just their second lead of the game in the 11th inning as the visitors from Allentown, PA., scored 3 runs to pull out an 11-8 victory over the Rochester Red Wings before 5,226 fans.
“Two tough losses in a row,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade. “The positives are well, we put eight on them, which is a great way to start…but we never added on to it. That hurt, but we had chances to win it late.”
The victory was the 12th in a row for Lehigh Valley, the longest winning streak in the International League this season.
The visitors scored a run in the first, but the Red Wings responded with 4 runs in their half of the frame. Daniel Palka, ByungHo Park, and J.B. Shuck delivered RBI hits. The other run came home on an errant pickoff throw to first.
However, the IronPigs tied the game with 3 runs in the third against Rochester starter David Hurlbut. But the Wings responded with 4 runs in the home half.
Catcher John Ryan Murphy delivered the big blow, a 3-run homer over the left field fence. That proved to be the final run the Wings could push across the plate.
Lehigh Valley demonstrated why the ‘Pigs have the best record in the IL (26-13) as they battled back once again to knot the count at 8-8 with a solo homer off reliever Michael Tonkin.
Rochester had an opportunity to post the go-ahead run in the bottom half. Niko Goodrum, who pinch-ran for Park after he went 3-for-4 with a double in the 8th, took third on a sacrifice bunt by Leonardo Reginatto. After an intentional walk to Shuck, Murphy struck out and Engelb Vielma flew out to right to end the threat.
“When you miss those opportunities late in a game you know it’s usually going to come back to haunt you,” said Quade.
Neither team threatened until the home 10th when the Red Wings loaded the bases with one out. Murphy once again had the chance to be the hero, but hit into a double play to send the game to the 11th inning.
Lehigh Valley pushed across 3 runs off reliever Kevin Chapman to secure the victory.
Rochester reliever Alan Busenitz threw 3.1 innings of 1-hit ball as he retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced to keep the Wings in the game.
“I’ve been working on my curve and fastball,” said Busenitz.
Tonkin hurled 3 innings and was tagged for the solo homer that tied the game at 8-8.
“The job that Busenitz and Tonkin did was phenomenal,” Quade said.
*NOTES – Entering tonight’s game, the Red Wings pitching staff led the IL with a 2.95 ERA but they have yielded 26 unearned runs this season, second most in the league…Lehigh Valley now has won seven straight games against the Red Wings dating back to the last game of 2016. Their 12-game winning streak is the longest in the IL since 2011…David Hurlbut had pitched at least 5.0 innings in each of his first five starts prior to Wednesday night, and the 9 hits and 7 runs allowed were the most he’s allowed in a game this season.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
John Ryan Murphy DP – https://youtu.be/MUAZKC6IpDY
Alan Busenitz interview – https://youtu.be/EINc6UurLXY
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/bhhgv6P-uVI