The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (54-38, 8-10) returned from the All-Star Break on Friday night against the Rochester Americans (35-56, 8-11) from Coca-Cola Park. Gabe Mosser (3-3, 5.88 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Bryce Conley (1-0, 1.69 ERA) of Rochester.
At the top of the second inning, Rochester left fielder Andrew Pinckney hit Mosser’s sinker for a solo home run at 356 feet to right field for a 1-0 lead. It was Pinckney’s 10th home run of the season.
In the bottom of the third inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Cal Stevenson hit a double to center field. It was his 10th double of the season. Rodolfo Castro moved Stevenson to third base with a groundout to second base. A wild pitch by Rochester starter Bryce Conley scored Stevenson, and the game was tied 1-1. Justin Crawford and Weston Wilson grounded out and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit an RBI single to right field scoring Garrett Stubbs for a 2-1 lead. It was his 40th RBI of the season. Later, shortstop Donovan Walton brought Rincones Jr. home with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 3-1 lead.
At the top of the sixth inning, Rochester left fielder Andrew Pinckney hit Mosser’s sinker for a two-run home run at 418 feet to center field, and the game was tied 3-3. Mosser’s day was done, and Josh Walker of the new pitcher. Mosser pitched 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, three runs, one walk, and nine strikeouts throwing 96 pitches, of which 63 were strikes.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when designated hitter Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to left field. Weston Wilson scored and Lehigh Valley took a 4-3 lead.
At the top of the seventh inning, Rochester first baseman Yohandy Morales hit Daniel Harper’s sinker for a two-run home run at 382 feet to right field. The IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 5-4. It was his sixth home run of the season. Later, Rochester right fielder Nick Schnell hit Harper’s four-seam fastball for a three-run home run at 412 feet to center field for an 8-4 lead. It was his 11th home run of the season.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley had the bases loaded with two outs for Garrett Stubbs. Unfortunately, Stubbs struck out swinging and the inning was over.
At the top of the eighth inning, Rochester center fielder Robert Hassell III hit a two-run RBI double to center field scoring Darren Baker and Nasim Nunez for a 10-4 lead. Then, Rochester right fielder Nick Schnell hit an RBI single to shortstop Rodolfo Castro scoring Yohandy Morales for an 11-4 lead.
Lehigh Valley’s offense struggled the rest of the way. They went on to lose to the Red Wings by the final score of 11-4. Lehigh Valley’s bullpen went 3.1 innings, allowing eight hits, eight runs, three walks, and four strikeouts.
The offense had eight hits, went 3 for 5 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. The loss went to Lehigh Valley relief pitcher Daniel Harper. It was his second loss of the season, and the win went to Rochester relief pitcher Parker Dunshee.
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game two on Saturday at 6:35 pm.
