The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (46-27) played game four against the Rochester Red Wings (26-45) on Friday night from Coca-Cola Park. Wil Crowe (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Cade Cavalli (2-1, 4.22 ERA). Crowe was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA, and 13 strikeouts in 17 innings playing five games for the Reading Fightin’ Phils this year.
At the top of the first inning, Rochester right fielder Robert Hassell III hit a solo home run to right-center field for a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit Cavalli’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run to right-center field and the game was tied 1-1. It was Rincones Jr.’s eighth home run of the season.
Later, Lehigh Valley third baseman Nick Dunn hit an RBI single to right field scoring Oscar Mercado for a 2-1 lead. At the top of the third inning, Rochester first baseman Yohandy Morales grounded into a forceout at second base but Nasim Nunez scored to tie the game 2-2.
Rochester blew the game open. At the top of the fourth inning, a wild pitch by Lehigh Valley starter Wil Crowe scored Trey Lipscomb for a 3-2 lead. Then, Robert Hassell III hit a two-run RBI double to center field making it 5-2.
At the top of the fifth inning, Andrew Pinckney hit a two-run RBI single and Nasim Nunez hit an RBI single for an 8-2 lead. At the top of the sixth inning, Trey Lipscomb hits an RBI single to right field for a 9-2 lead.
At the top of the seventh inning, Robert Hassell III hit a solo home run to center field making it 10-2, and J.T. Arruda hit a solo home run to center field at the top of the eighth inning for a 11-2 lead. In the bottom of the eighth inning, a wild pitch by Holden Powell scored Weston Wilson and it was now 11-3. Lehigh Valley had a chance with the bases loaded to add more runs with two outs, but catcher Payton Henry flies out to right fielder Robert Hassell III, who made the catch to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Rodolfo Castro hit Parker Dunshee’s sinker for a two-run home run at 341 feet to left field cutting Rochester’s lead to 11-5. It was Castro’s sixth home run of the season. That would be all for Lehigh Valley as they lose their fourth straight game to Rochester by the final score of 11-5.
Jacksonville split the doubleheader with Syracuse on Friday and as a result, both the IronPigs and Jumbo Shrimp are tied for first place in the International League East Division standings with two games left of the First Half season.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with eight hits, went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position, and left six runners on base. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Wil Crowe. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, five runs, four walks, and two strikeouts throwing 70 pitches, of which 38 were strikes. The win went to Rochester starter Cade Cavalli.
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game five on Saturday at 6:35 pm.
