The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (8-4) and the Rochester Red Wings (6-6) played game three on Thursday evening from Coca-Cola Park. Alan Rangel was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Mitchell Parker of Rochester.
The game was scoreless in the first two innings until the top of the third inning. Rochester had a runner on third base when shortstop Zack Short hit a sharp line drive RBI single to left field. Trey Lipscomb scored to put the Red Wings up 1-0 with one out. A groundout by Christian Franklin and a flyout from Harry Ford ended the inning.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, Lehigh Valley first baseman Felix Reyes hit a single, followed by right fielder Bryan De La Cruz working a four-pitch walk. Designated hitter Carter Kieboom hit a sharp line drive RBI double to left field. Reyes and Cruz scored to give the IronPigs a 2-1 lead. It was Kieboom’s second double of the season.
With two outs, Lehigh Valley second baseman Liover Peguero hit a soft fly ball RBI single to center field. Carter Kieboom scored for a 3-1 lead. Then, catcher Caleb Ricketts hit a fly ball RBI double to left field. Peguero scored for a 4-1 lead. Rochester starter Mitchell Parker was replaced by Trevor Gott. A groundout by Oscar Mercado ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley shortstop Sergio Alcantara hit a double to right field. Two batters later, with two outs, right fielder Bryan De La Cruz hit a ground ball RBI single to left field. Alcantara scored for a 5-1 lead. A forceout by Carter Kieboom ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel pitched six innings, allowing six hits, one run, and three strikeouts, throwing 75 pitches, of which 51 were strikes. Kyle Backhus was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the seventh inning. Backhus made quick work. He got a groundout from Yohandy Morales, struck out Andrew Pinckey, and a flyout by Trey Lipscomb ended the inning. Backhus threw 13 pitches, of which eight were strikes.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Oscar Mercado hit a single, Christian Cairo was hit by a pitch, and Sergio Alcantara hit a single that loaded the bases with nobody out. First baseman Felix Reyes grounded into a forceout at second base, but Mercado scored for a 6-1 lead. Felix Reyes was caught stealing second base, and Bryan De La Cruz struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Trevor Richards was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the eighth inning. Richards got Phillip Glasser to line out to shortstop Sergio Alcantara before striking out Zack Short and Christian Franklin to end the inning. Richards threw 11 pitches, of which eight were strikes.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley had insurance runs. With one out and a runner on second base, catcher Caleb Ricketts hit a soft fly ball RBI double to right field. Liover Peguero scored for a 7-1 lead. Left fielder Oscar Mercado followed up with an RBI single to left field. Ricketts scored for an 8-1 lead. With two outs, a groundout by Christian Cairo ended the inning.
Chase Shugart pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. With one out, Shugart gave up a base hit to Robert Hassell III. Shugart got Andres Chaparro to line out to first baseman Felix Reyes for the second out before Yohandy Morales hit a single to center field. Andrew Pinckney followed up with an RBI single to center field, scoring Hassell III. Shugart struck out Trey Lipscomb to end the game. The IronPigs snap a two-game losing streak with an 8-2 win.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 11 hits, went 7 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Caleb Ricketts went 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Liover Peguero went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
The win went to Lehigh Valley starter Alan Rangel. It was his second win of the season, and the loss went to Rochester starter Mitchell Parker.
The IronPigs and Red Wings continue the series with game five on Friday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App. Connor Gillispie (2-0, 0.00 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Luis Perales (0-1, 6.23 ERA) of Rochester.
