Brent Rooker and Randy Cesar each homer for Rochester.
ALLENTOWN, PA. — The Rochester Red Wings hopes for a fast start were put on hold Saturday as they were swept in a doubleheader by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park.
Rochester was blown out, 12-3, in the opener before falling in a pitcher’s duel, 4-1, in the night cap.
The lone bright spot of Game One came off the bat of Brent Rooker who hit his first Triple-A homer with a two-run shot in the second inning.
The homer cut the IronPigs lead to 4-2, but Lehigh Valley would answer back with two runs in the bottom half of the second before piling on three runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings.
Lewis Thorpe (0-1) suffered the loss in his season debut allowing nine runs on 10 hits over four innings.
The Red Wings went with all bullpen arms in Game Two. Austin Adams got the start in his Wings debut and was really good striking out four over 2.1 innings. He was charged with a run however, when Fernando Romero – while in the stretch – dropped the ball for a balk allowing the inherited runner to score from third.
Randy Cesar would get that run back in the fifth with his second home run of the season – a laser out to left field that tied the game, 1-1.
But, the IronPigs would come right back against Preston Guilmet in the bottom half of the fifth. Shane Robinson led off with a home run, before RBI hits from Phil Gosselin and Mitch Walding extended the lead to 4-1.
The Wings will seek a four-game series split on Sunday afternoon with righty Zack Littell making his season debut.
WINGS THINGS: Prior to the game, Wings pitcher Chase De Jong was promoted to Minnesota…The Wings were swept in four of their nine twin bills in 2018…The Wings play the IronPigs 11 of their first 17 games this season…Rochester went just 6-12 against the ‘Pigs in 2018…Wynston Sawyer was the only Red Wings with two hits in the opener…Luke Raley made his Triple-A debut Saturday going a combined 1-for-4 with a run and two walks.