Shortly after completing their Wednesday night game, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (40-44, 5-4) took on the Rochester Red Wings (49-33, 4-5) in game three on Thursday night at ESL Ballpark. The game was set for seven innings.
Chuck King was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Alex Young of Rochester. Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies announced they optioned RHP Alan Rangel to Lehigh Valley.
At the top of the first inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on third base when designated hitter Keaton Anthony hit Young’s changeup for a two-run home run at 404 feet to center field to put the IronPigs up 2-0. With two outs, a groundout by Otto Kemp ended the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on second base when Robert Moore hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Bryan De La Cruz for a 3-0 lead. Steward Berroa followed up by hitting an RBI single to left field, scoring Moore for a 4-0 lead. With two outs, Lehigh Valley right fielder Tommy Pham grounded into a forceout at second base, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the second inning, Rochester had runners on first and second base when Phillip Glasser hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Andrew Pinckney, and it was now 4-1. Later, Rochester had the bases loaded when Yohandy Morales hit King’s changeup for a grand slam to left-center field, giving the Red Wings a 5-4 lead. It was his 18th home run of the season. With two outs, a pop-out by Abimelec Ortiz to third baseman Otto Kemp ended the inning.
At the top of the third inning, Keaton Anthony worked a four-pitch walk before Otto Kemp hit Connor Van Scoyoc’s sinker for a two-run home run at 405 feet to center field to put the IronPigs ahead 6-5. It was his eighth home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 107.3 mph. With two outs, a groundout by Christian Cairo ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Rochester had a runner on second base when Trey Lipscomb hit King’s four-seam fastball for a two-run home run at 348 feet to right field to give the Red Wings a 7-6 lead. It was his 15th home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 101.8 mph. With two outs, a groundout by Riley Adams ended the inning.
Chuck King went four innings, allowing six hits, seven runs, two walks, and five strikeouts, throwing 76 pitches, of which 48 were strikes. Kirby Snead pitched for Lehigh Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning. Snead allowed a hit and struck out one, throwing 13 pitches, of which seven were strikes.
At the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had runners on the corners when Steward Berroa hit an RBI single to second baseman Phillip Glasser. Berroa beat the throw at first base, and Paul McIntosh scored, tying the game 7-7. Later, Lehigh Valley had runners on first and second base when Felix Reyes hit Luke Young’s sinker for a three-run home run at 445 feet to left field to put the IronPigs ahead 10-7.
It was his 19th home run of the season, and the exit velocity off the bat was 110.1 mph. Two batters later, Lehigh Valley had a runner on first base when Keaton Anthony hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Tommy Pham for an 11-7 lead. With two outs, Otto Kemp struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rochester had runners on the corners when Yohandy Morales grounded out to third baseman Otto Kemp. Riley Adams scored, and it was now 11-8. With two outs, a groundout by Abimelec Ortiz ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Rochester had a runner on third base with one out when Trey Lipscomb grounded out to shortstop Robert Moore, scoring Brady House, and it was now 11-9. With two outs, a lineout by Robert Hassell III ended the game.
The IronPigs defeated the Red Wings 11-9. In the two games played today, Lehigh Valley scored a total of 29 runs (18 in the first game, 11 in this game). Kirby Snead went three innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one walk, and two strikeouts, throwing 46 pitches, of which 26 were strikes.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 12 hits, went 7 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and left three men on base. Felix Reyes went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs, while Keaton Anthony went 2 for 3 with a home run, a walk, and three RBIs. The win went to Lehigh Valley pitcher Kirby Snead (5-1), and the loss went to Rochester pitcher Luke Young (3-2).
The IronPigs and Red Wings play game four on Friday at 6:05 pm on the MLB App. Kolby Allard (2-1, 4.39 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Jackson Kent (5-3, 3.53 ERA) of Rochester.
