The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (55-38, 9-10) and the Rochester Red Wings (35-57, 8-12) played game two on Saturday night from Coca-Cola Park. Mick Abel (6-2, 2.00 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Cade Cavalli (3-4, 5.80 ERA) of Rochester.
Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies recalled infielder/outfielder Weston Wilson and placed Alec Bohm on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left rib. Wilson was slated to play third base before the call-up. Taking his place was Josh Breaux, who was activated from the development list.
In the bottom of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners with nobody out. Lehigh Valley first baseman Keaton Anthony grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Justin Crawford scored for a 1-0 lead. Then, right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit Cavalli’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run at 357 feet to left-center field for a 2-0 lead. It was his ninth home run of the season.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Oscar Mercado hit an RBI single to second base scoring Garrett Stubbs for a 3-0 lead. Next, shortstop Donovan Walton hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Keaton Anthony for a 4-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel did a good job. He pitched six innings, allowing two hits, two walks, and five strikeouts throwing 85 pitches, of which 51 were strikes. At the top of the seventh inning, Rochester third baseman Trey Lipscomb hit Adonis Medina’s sinker for a solo home run at 403 feet to left-center field. The IronPigs now led the Red Wings 4-1.
Lehigh Valley would get the run back in the bottom of the seventh inning. Catcher Garrett Stubbs hit Michael Cuevas’s slider for a solo home run at 346 feet to right field for a 5-1 lead. It was Stubbs’s seventh home run of the season.
Guillo Zuñiga closed out the game for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Rochester center fielder Robert Hassell III hit an RBI single to shortstop Donovan Walton scoring Jose Tena, and it was now 5-2. With two outs, Zuñiga struck out Yohandy Morales to end the game.
The IronPigs defeated the Red Wings 5-2. Lehigh Valley finished the night with six hits, committed one error, went 1 for 4 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base.
Lehigh Valley’s bullpen pitched three innings, allowing five hits, two runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. Mick Abel picked up his seventh win of the season, and the loss went to Rochester starter Cade Cavalli.
The IronPigs and Red Wings conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 1:35 pm.
