The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (27-33) and the Rochester Red Wings (27-22) played game three on Thursday night from Coca-Cola Park. Brian Keller was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Jackson Kent of Rochester.
Before the game, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs released RHP John McMillon and RHP Bryse Wilson. McMillon went 0-0, with a 7.71 ERA, eight strikeouts, 11 walks, seven hits allowed, nine runs, and eight earned runs in 10 games. Wilson went 3-5, with a 7.23 ERA, 49 strikeouts, 18 walks, 62 hits allowed, five home runs, 40 runs, and 38 earned runs in 10 games.
In the bottom of the second inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Keaton Antony hit a single to center field, and third baseman Carter Kieboom hit a single with one out, moving Anthony to second base.
With two outs, Lehigh Valley catcher Paul McIntosh hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Anthony to give the IronPigs a 1-0 lead. It was his 14th RBI of the season. A groundout by Robert Moore ended the inning.
At the top of the third inning, Rochester right fielder Christian Franklin hit a double to the corner of right field with one out. Seaver King followed up by hitting an RBI single that got by Christian Cairo and into left field. Christian Franklin scored, and the game was tied 1-1. With two outs, a lineout by Brady House ended the inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, Rochester center fielder Joey Wiemer reached first base on a fielding error by Lehigh Valley second baseman Robert Moore. A wild pitch by Brian Keller moved Wiemer to second base. Keller would walk Harry Ford, followed by Robert Hassell III grounding into a forceout at second base. Riley Adams grounded into a forceout at second base, scoring Wiemer to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead. Rochester would put two more runners on before Keller struck out Christian Franklin to retire the side.
Lehigh Valley starter Brian Keller pitched four innings, allowing four hits, two runs, three walks, and four strikeouts, throwing 61 pitches, of which 40 were strikes. Nolan Hoffman pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rochester had runners on the corners with two outs when Harry Ford hit a soft groundball to third base, scoring Abimelec Ortiz for a 3-1 lead.
Hoffman walked Robert Hassell III, which loaded the bases. Hoffman walked Riley Adams, forcing in a run that made it 4-1. That was it for Nolan Hoffman. He was replaced by Gabriel Barbosa. Trey Lipscomb grounded into a forceout at third base to end the inning. Hoffman allowed three hits, two runs, two walks, and one strikeout, throwing 31 pitches, of which 14 were strikes.
At the top of the sixth inning, Rochester had runners on first and second base when Abimelec Ortiz hit a two-run RBI double to right field, scoring Christian Franklin and Seaver King for a 6-1 lead. A wild pitch by Barbosa moved Ortiz to third base. With two outs, Barbosa struck out Harry Ford to retire the side.
At the top of the seventh inning, Rochester second baseman Trey Lipscomb hit a triple with two outs after Lehigh Valley center fielder Dylan Moore could not locate the ball. This would cost them as Christian Franklin hit an RBI double to right field, scoring Lipscomb for a 7-1 lead. A groundout by Seaver King ended the inning. Barbosa went 1.1 innings, allowing three hits, three runs, two walks, and three strikeouts, throwing 47 pitches, of which 27 were strikes.
Levi Stoudt pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the eighth inning. He pitched two innings, allowing a hit, a walk, and two strikeouts, throwing 25 pitches, of which 18 were strikes, to get six outs.
In the bottom of the ninth, Lehigh Valley first baseman Keaton Anthony hit a triple to right field with two outs. It was Lehigh Valley’s first base hit since the second inning. Christian Cairo grounded out, and the game was over.
Lehigh Valley would go on to lose its third straight game to the Red Wings by the final score of 7-1. Lehigh Valley finished the night with three hits, committed one error, went 1 for 4 with runners in scoring position, and left four men on base. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Brian Keller (0-1), and the win went to Rochester Jackson Kent (2-0).
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game four on Friday at 6:45 pm on the MLB App. Chuck King (2-4, 5.20 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Luis Perales (1-4, 3.05 ERA) of Rochester.
