STAFF REPORTS
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs held on to beat the Rochester Red Wings 4-3 Friday night at Frontier Field. The series continues Saturday night at 7:05 p.m., with an appearance by “Gotham” star Camren Bicondova on Batman Night, free Wings caps, and bat-fireworks after the game.
Matt Tracy got off to a rocky start in the bottom of the first inning as the second batter of the game, J.P. Crawford, doubled off of Tracy giving the IronPigs a runner in scoring position with one out. Crawford was brought home on a single by Rhys Hoskins making it 1-0 Lehigh Valley.
Zack Granite led off the bottom of the first with a single off of John Richy, that extended Granite’s on base game streak to 22 games. Three batters later Matt Hague hit an infield single that extended his hit streak to 11 straight games and also gave the Red Wings a runner in scoring position with two outs. Rochester was unable to cash in on this scoring opportunity however, leaving the score 1-0 IronPigs after one inning.
Lehigh Valley added on to their lead in the top of the second with three runs for a 4-0 lead.
Rochester responded in the bottom of the third. Back to back singles by Granite and Mitch Garver and a walk to Hague loaded the bases. ByungHo Park’s two-RBI single cut the deficit in half making it 4-2. Two batters later John Ryan Murphy brought home Hague making it 4-3 IronPigs.
After hitting Nick Williams in the top of the fifth, Tracy’s night came to a close when he was relieved by John Curtiss. Tracy finished with 4.2 innings pitched, allowing seven hits, four runs, all earned, two walks, one hit batter, and struck out seven on 105 pitches, 62 of which were strikes.
J.B. Shuck kicked off the bottom of the fifth with a single that ended up with Shuck making it to third due to an error by the left fielder Andrew Pullin that gave the Red Wings a golden chance to tie the game. After retiring back to back batters and keeping Shuck on third, Richy’s night concluded when he was replaced by Ricardo Pinto. Pinto was able to finish off the inning without allowing a run keeping the score at 4-3.
Richy’s finished with 4.2 innings pitched, allowing eight hits, three runs, all earned, walked two and struck out just one on 79 pitches, 51 for strikes.
Curtiss added 2.1 innings of solid work, allowing no hits or walks and also striking out three in his Triple-A debut. Jake Reed added two scoreless relief innings; the Wings bullpen held the IronPigs hitless after third inning.
The Wings had runners at first and third with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn’t score the tying run.
The Red Wings out-hit Lehigh Valley 11-7.
