By CRAIG POTTER
Rochester gets just 2 hits in the 3-1 loss to the IronPigs.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings failed to gain ground on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Tuesday night as the visitors from Allentown, PA. extended their lead to 3.5 games over the Wings for the International League’s wild card berth with a 3-1 victory before 5,215 fans at Frontier Field.
Rochester (62-46) scored the first run, but Lehigh Valley (66-43) tied the game with a solo homer off D.J. Baxendale in the second, and took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth.
The loss dropped the red Wings record to 47-11 when scoring the first run of the game, which is the best in the IL.
ByungHo Park drove in Matt Hague with a single in the first inning.
The Wings loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Daniel Palka flew out to end the threat.
“That was really the only opportunity we had,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade. “We just didn’t swing the bats.
“We held this club to three runs, we’ve got to find a way to win.”
Rochester did not have another baserunner the rest of the game as four Mud Hen hurlers combined to retire the next 18 batters in a row.
Toledo pushed across the decisive runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly against reliever Alex Wimmers, and a RBI single off Mason Melotakis.
Dillon Gee was scheduled to start the game for the Red Wings, but got called up to the Twins earlier in the day.
“Anytime I get a spot start, I just treat it like a relief appearance,” Baxendale said. “I need about 30 minutes notice to get ready.”
Defensively, centerfielder J.B. Shuck made a couple of great running catches to rob Mud Hens of hits.
*NOTES – The Minnesota twins reinstated OF Bryon Buxton from the disabled list and recalled RHP Dillon Gee, tonight’s scheduled starter, earlier today. LHP Dietrich Enns, acquired from the Yankees on July 30, officially was added to the Red Wings today… Kennys Vargas celebrated his 27th birthday Tuesday…The series continues Wednesday night with a 7:05 start and concludes Thursday night.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – www.redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
D.J. Baxendale interview – https://youtu.be/_svbjdUg45I
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/MGDmQlAWuSU