The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (22-9) took on the Rochester American (7-23) in game four of a six-game series on Friday night from Innovative Field. Alan Rangel (2-0, 4.55 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Michael Soroka (0-0, 0.00 ERA) of Rochester.
Lehigh Valley trailed Rochester 4-0 at the top of the third inning until second baseman Rafael Lantigua hit Soroka’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 423 feet to center field and the IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 4-1. Lantigua went 3 for 4 with a double, a walk, a home run, and one RBI.
Lehigh Valley’s pitching and defense were inconsistent throughout this game but the hitting was excellent. After Rochester scored four more runs to take an 8-1 lead, Lehigh Valley began a comeback at the top of the seventh inning.
Lehigh Valley left fielder Justin Crawford hit an RBI single to left field scoring Cade Fergus and the IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 8-2. Next, third baseman Otto Kemp hit an RBI single to center field scoring Rafael Lantigua and it was now 8-3 Rochester, A sacrifice fly by Brandon Marsh and an RBI single by Buddy Kennedy got Lehigh Valley back into the game trailing Rochester 8-5.
Rochester scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. At the top of the eighth inning, third baseman Otto Kemp hit an RBI single scoring Rafael Lantigua and it was now 10-6 Rochester. At the top of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Cade Fergus hit a two-run RBI single to score Erick Brito and Garrett Stubbs. The IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 10-8.
A wild pitch by Rochester pitcher Clay Helvey brought home Rodolfo Castro and Rochester’s lead was down to 10-9. Then, Otto Kemp hit a two-run RBI double to left field scoring Fergus and Lantigua for an 11-10 lead. Otto Kemp went 4 for 5 with two doubles, a walk, and four RBIs.
An RBI single by Brandon Marsh and a sacrifice fly by Gabriel Rincones Jr. made it 13-10 Lehigh Valley. Unfortunately, pitching and defense allowed Rochester to tie the game 13-13 in the bottom of the ninth inning.
A sacrifice fly by Lehigh Valley shortstop Rodolfo Castro put the IronPigs up 14-13. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Rochester catcher Andrew Knizner hit a game-winning two-run single and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs were defeated by the Rochester Red Wings 15-13.
Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel had a rough night pitching five innings, allowing 12 hits, six runs, and four strikeouts throwing 81 pitches, of which 61 were strikes in a no-decision.
The loss went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Max Lazar for his second loss of the season pitching 0.2 IP, allowing two hits, two runs, and one walk throwing 16 pitches, of which 12 were strikes. The win went to Rochester relief pitcher Carlos Romero.
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game five on Saturday at 1:05 pm. Purchase IronPigs tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
