Rochester comes up one run shy in the 4-3 loss to the IronPigs.
ALLENTOWN, PA. — The Rochester Red Wings rally fell one run short as they closed out a 4-game series with a 4-3 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Sunday at Coca-Cola Park. The teams split the series 2-2.
J.P. Crawford tripled and doubled, and Brandon Leibrandt allowed just two hits over five innings for the IronPigs.
Pedro Beato got Engelb Vielma to ground out with a runner on first to end the game for his 26th save of the season.
Leibrandt (3-0) picked up the win after he struck out three and walked three while allowing one run.
Lehigh Valley got on the board first in the third inning when Crawford hit an RBI triple and then scored on a single by Rhys Hoskins.
The Red Wings cut into the deficit in the fifth inning when Niko Goodrum hit an RBI single, bringing home John Ryan Murphy.
The IronPigs added to their lead in the fifth when Dylan Cozens hit a two-run home run, which proved to be the game-winning hit.
Rochester saw its comeback attempt come up short after Murphy hit a solo home run in the seventh inning and Edgar Corcino hit an RBI double in the eighth to cut the Lehigh Valley lead to 4-3.
Tim Melville (2-3) went 4 1/3 innings as he allowed four runs on seven hits. He also struck out five and walked one.
The Red Wings return home Monday for a double header against the Charlotte Knights beginning at 5:05 pm.
*NOTES — Rochester is 39-9 when scoring first and leads the International League with an .813 winning percentage when plating the first run this season. The Red Wings had scored the game’s first run a league-low 24 times (18-6) through June 10. Since then, Rochester has scored the first run in 24 of 33 games while going 21-3 in those…Mitch Garver was named the International League Batter of the Week on Monday. Garver batted .321 (9-for-28) with two doubles, five
home runs, eight RBI and 10 runs scored in seven games during the week. He led the league in home runs, total bases (26), runs scored and slugging (.929) while tying for the league lead in extra-base hits (7) during the week, which began July 3… Rochester leads the International League with a 3.26 ERA despite using a Red Wings record 35 different pitchers already this season. The Red Wings have not led the IL in ERA since the 1976 squad posted a 3.51 mark.