The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (7-3) returned to Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday night to begin a six-game series against the Rochester Red Wings (5-5). Jean Cabrera (0-0, 1.93 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Riley Cornelio (0-0, 4.15 ERA) of Rochester.
Before the game took place, the Philadelphia Phillies announced that right-hand pitcher Orion Kerkering was reinstated from the 15-day IL, and left-hand pitcher Kyle Backhus was optioned to Lehigh Valley.
The game was scoreless in the first two innings until the top of the third inning. Rochester had runners on second and third base when left fielder Christian Franklin hit a ground ball two-run RBI single to center field. Riley Adams and Yohandy Morales scored to give the Red Wings a 2-0 lead.
Later, Rochester had runners on the corners when first baseman Abimelec Ortiz hit Cabrera’s hanging slider for a three-run home run at 380 feet to right field for a 5-0 lead. The exit velocity off the bat was 100.7 mph. With two outs, Cabrera struck out Trey Lipscomb with a sweeper to end the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning with one out, second baseman Sergio Alcantara walked, followed by shortstop Christian Cairo hitting a single to right field, moving Alcantara to third base. Left fielder Felix Reyes brought home Alcantara with a sacrifice fly to center field. The IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 5-1. With two outs, catcher Garrett Stubbs struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
At the top of the fourth inning, Andrew Walling replaced Jean Cabrera after Cabrera put two runners on base. With the bases loaded and two outs, Walling walked Harry Ford to force in a run. Lehigh Valley now trailed Rochester 6-1. Then, Dylan Crews hit a soft RBI single to second baseman Sergio Alcantara, scoring Riley Adams for a 7-1 lead. Walling struck out Abimelec Ortiz to end the inning. Jean Cabrera pitched 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, seven runs, two walks, and five strikeouts, throwing 77 pitches, of which 48 were strikes. Walling allowed a hit, two walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 25 pitches, of which 13 were strikes.
Griff McGarry was the new Lehigh Valley pitcher at the top of the fifth inning. McGarry loaded the bases before walking Phillip Glasser, giving the Red Wings an 8-1 lead. With one out, McGarry was able to strike out Christian Franklin and Harry Ford to get out of the inning. McGarry pitched an inning, allowing two hits, one run, two walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 36 pitches, of which 19 were strikes.
Génesis Cabrera was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Cabrera struck out Trey Lipscomb, and catcher Garrett Stubbs’ throw to Sergio Alcantara got Abimelec Ortiz out at second base for a strikeout double play, and the inning was over.
At the top of the seventh inning, Cabrera put runners on the corners with two outs before he was replaced by Jonathan Hernandez. Hernandez struck out Christian Franklin to end the inning. Génesis Cabrera pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and three strikeouts, throwing 38 pitches, of which 23 were strikes.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when first baseman Liover Peguero hit a two-run RBI double to left field. Caleb Ricketts and Pedro Leon scored while Peguero ran to third base, and the IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 8-3. Jack Sinclair replaced Zach Penrod a short time later. With runners on the corners, shortstop Christian Cairo grounded into a forceout at second base, and coming in to score was Liover Peguero. The IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 8-4. Three batters later, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when right fielder Bryan De La Cruz hit an RBI single to right field. Christian Cairo scored, and the IronPigs cut Rochester’s lead to 8-5.
At the top of the eighth inning, Rochester had runners on the corners with one out. Jonathan Hernandez struck out Trey Lipscomb, but a wild pitch allowed Harry Ford to score for a 9-5 lead. Rochester right fielder Robert Hassell III followed up with an RBI double to left field. Abimelec Ortiz scored for a 10-5 lead. Hernandez pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, and three strikeouts, throwing 29 pitches, of which 18 were strikes.
Nolan Hoffman pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Hoffman allowed a hit, two walks, and three strikeouts, throwing 31 pitches, of which 17 were strikes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when left fielder Felix Reyes hit an RBI double to left field. Sergio Alcantara scored, and the IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 10-6.
Next, Lehigh Valley catcher Garrett Stubbs grounded out to Rochester first baseman Abimelec Ortiz, scoring Christian Cairo, and the IronPigs trailed the Red Wings 10-7. Right fielder Bryan De La Cruz followed with another groundout to shortstop Trey Lipscomb.
Felix Reyes scored, and it was now 10-8. A groundout by Carter Kieboom ended the game. The IronPigs drop game one to the Red Wings by the final score of 10-8.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 10 hits, committed one error, went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Jean Cabrera, and the win went to Rochester starter Riley Cornelio.
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game two on Wednesday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App. Zack Wheeler (0-0, 7.50 ERA) will make his third rehab start for Lehigh Valley against Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 5.00 ERA).
