The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (46-28) played game five against the Rochester Red Wings (27-45) on Saturday night from Coca-Cola Park. Andrew Painter (3-2, 4.35 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Seth Shuman (1-4, 7.35 ERA) of Rochester.
In the first two innings, Rochester first baseman Yohandy Morales and center fielder Andrew Pinckney hit solo home runs putting the Red Wings up 2-0. In the bottom of the second inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Cal Stevenson hit Shuman’s four-seam fastball for a two-run home run at 416 feet to center field and the game was tied 2-2. It was Stevenson’s fourth home run of the season.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Weston Wilson hit Shuman’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 360 feet to left field giving the IronPigs a 3-2 lead. It was Wilson’s first home run of the season.
At the top of the sixth inning, Rochester had the bases loaded when Lehigh Valley pitcher Lucas Sims walked Robert Hassell III, and the game was tied 3-3. Then, catcher Drew Millas hit a two-run RBI sacrifice fly to center field for a 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on second and third base with one out. Shortstop Rodolfo Castro hit into a 2-3-1 inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Oscar Mercado hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Justin Crawford and it was now 5-4 Rochester. Then, left fielder Cal Stevenson hit a soft RBI single to shortstop Nasim Nunez scoring Weston Wilson and the game was tied 5-5. At the top of the eighth inning, a forceout by Robert Hassell III and a groundout by Drew Millas put Rochester back up 7-5.
Rochester got insurance runs at the top of the ninth inning. Trey Lipscomb hit an RBI double and Robert Hassell III hit an RBI single to make it 9-5. Lehigh Valley was unable to come back, and they lose their fifth game in a row to Rochester by the final score of 9-5. With the loss and Jacksonville beating Syracuse tonight, the Jumbo Shrimp won the First Half Division. Lehigh Valley had a seven-game lead in the division before the epic collapse.
Lehigh Valley finished the game with 10 hits, 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and left 12 men on base. Lehigh Valley starter Andrew Painter pitched five innings, allowing five hits, two runs, four walks, and five strikeouts throwing 89 pitches, of which 53 were strikes.
The loss went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Seth Johnson. He pitched one inning, allowing two hits, two runs, one walk, and one strikeout throwing 28 pitches, of which 18 were strikes. The win went to Rochester pitcher Konnor Pilkington and the save went to Patrick Weigel.
The IronPigs and Red Wings conclude the six-game series on Sunday at 1:35 pm.
