Rochester out-hits the IronPigs, 5-4, in the 3-1 defeat.
By Nick Sciarratta and Sean Clarke
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Lehigh Valley IronPigs outlasted the Rochester Red Wings in a 3-1 win Friday evening before a crowd of 11,120 at Frontier Field.
The game was a pitcher’s duel from the beginning as both starting pitchers were on the top of their game. Lewis Thorpe started on the mound for the Wings, and was having a fantastic outing until Joey Meneses hit a three-run shot off Thorpe to right field, scoring both Collin Cowgill and Dean Anna. Fortunately for Thorpe, none of the 3 runs were earned as Anna reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a wild pitch during Cowgill’s at bat. Cowgill walked later in the at bat to put two runners on base for Meneses, whose homer gave the IronPigs a 3-0 lead.
IronPigs starter Cole Irvin put together a good outing after 6.0 innings pitched, giving up only three hits and one walk, while striking out five on 82 pitches, 52 of them for strikes.
Ben Lively took the mound in the top of the seventh for the IronPigs, immediately giving up a ground rule double to LaMonte Wade. The next at bat, Zander Wiel had a base hit that advanced Wade to third. Juan Graterol then stepped to the plate and hit a slow roller to second basemen Anna who threw Graterol out, but not before Wade could score from third, making the score 3-1 IronPigs.
Thorpe’s day was done when Ryne Harper took the mound in the top of the eighth. Thorpe threw 7.0 innings of work, giving up 3 unearned run on 4 hits, 1 home run, and 1 walk, striking out 8 on 96 pitches, 68 of which were strikes.
Harper chipped in 2 perfect relief innings.
Red Wings announce 2019 schedule
Rochester begins the 140-game season with seven on the road at Lehigh Valley (April 4-7) and Syracuse (April 8-10) before the Home Opener on Thursday, April 11 vs. the IronPigs. The first homestand of the season consists of six games with the IronPigs and Chiefs before the first off day on April 18. The Red Wings play Lehigh Valley or Syracuse the first 17 games of the year and play within the division the first 31 games through May 5. Rochester completes the campaign with a four-game series with Syracuse from Aug. 30-Sept. 2.
The Wings will be on the road on July 4 for the first time since 2003 and will instead be home on July 3 vs. the Chiefs. The All-Star Break will go from July 8-10 with the festivities taking place in El Paso, TX.
The home schedule against division opponents features three series with Buffalo (May 21-23; May 31-June 2; August 19-22), two with Lehigh Valley (April 11-14; July 11-14), three with Pawtucket (April 26-28; May 24-27; June 28-30), three with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (April 22-25; June 24-25; July 31-August 1) and three with Syracuse (April 15-17; July 1-3; August 30-September 2).
Game times will be announced at a later date.
*NOTES — The Red Wings host Lehigh Valley Saturday night at 6:05 pm in the middle of the final homestand of the season, with fireworks after the game…Byron Buxton’s 5-game hitting streak ended on Friday after going 0-3 and a HBP.