The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (28-33) played game four against the Rochester Red Wings (27-23) on Friday night from Coca-Cola Park. Bryse Wilson was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Luis Perales of Rochester. Before the game, the IronPigs re-signed RHP Bryse Wilson, who was released a couple of days ago.
In the bottom of the second inning, Lehigh Valley had an opportunity to score when Bryan De La Cruz worked a four-pitch walk, and Christian Cairo was hit by a pitch. Later, Cruz was on third base, and Cairo was on second base when Caleb Ricketts hit into a fielder’s choice. Cruz was out at home plate. With two outs, a flyout by Robert Moore ended the inning.
Lehigh Valley starter Bryse Wilson pitched four innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and five strikeouts, throwing 56 pitches, of which 38 were strikes.
Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Bryan De La Cruz worked a four-pitch walk with one out, followed by a single from Christian Cairo. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base. A wild pitch by Zach Penrod scored Cruz to give the IronPigs a 1-0 lead. Lehigh Valley third baseman Carter Kieboom hit into an inning-ending 6-5 double play.
Andrew Bechtold was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the fifth inning. Rochester had a runner on second base when Robert Hassell III hit an RBI double to right field, scoring Andrew Pinckney, and the game was tied 1-1.
Later, Rochester had runners on the corners when Phillip Glasser hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Hassell III to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead. With two outs, Seaver King grounded into a forceout at second base to end the inning. Bechtold went one inning, allowing four hits and two runs, throwing 24 pitches, of which 15 were strikes.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lehigh Valley second baseman Robert Moore hit a double with one out. Two batters later, right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Moore, and the game was tied 2-2. Rincones Jr. ran to second base with two outs. A flyout by Felix Reyes ended the inning.
Chuck King pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the sixth inning. King pitched three innings, allowing two walks and four strikeouts, throwing 50 pitches, of which 27 were strikes.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Otto Kemp and Bryan De La Cruz hit singles. A sacrifice bunt by Christian Cairo moved both runners up a base, followed by a sacrifice fly from Carter Kieboom, which brought home Kemp to give the IronPigs a 3-2 lead with two outs. A lineout by Caleb Ricketts ended the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lehigh Valley left fielder Otto Kemp hit P.J. Poulin’s four-seam fastball for a solo home run to left-center field for a 4-2 lead. It was Kemp’s fourth home run of the season.
Seth Johnson pitched for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Johnson allowed two hits and struck out two, throwing 20 pitches, of which 16 were strikes, to get the final three outs of the game. The IronPigs snapped a three-game losing streak to beat the Red Wings 4-2.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with eight hits, went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. Otto Kemp went 2 for 4 with a home run and one RBI. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Chuck King (3-3), while Seth Johnson earned his sixth save of the season, and the loss went to Rochester pitcher Seth Shuman (5-1).
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game five on Saturday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App. Alan Rangel (2-4, 3.81 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Andre Granillo (0-1, 7.94 ERA) of Rochester.
