STAFF REPORTS
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Lehigh Valley IronPigs outlasted the Rochester Red Wings in a 3-1 win Friday evening at Frontier Field. The Wings host Lehigh Valley Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. in the middle of the final homestand of the season, with fireworks after the game.
The game was a pitcher’s duel from the beginning as both starting pitchers were on the top of their game. Lewis Thorpe started on the mound for the Wings, and was having a fantastic outing until Joey Meneses hit a three-run shot off Thorpe to right field, scoring both Collin Cowgill and Dean Anna. Fortunately for Thorpe, none of the three runs were earned as Anna reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a wild pitch during Cowgill’s at bat. Cowgill walked later in the at bat to put two runners on base for Meneses, whose homer gave the IronPigs a 3-0 lead.
IronPigs starter Cole Irvin put together a good outing after 6.0 innings pitched, giving up only three hits and one walk, while striking out five on 82 pitches, 52 of them for strikes.
Ben Lively took the mound in the top of the seventh for the IronPigs, immediately giving up a ground rule double to LaMonte Wade. The next at bat, Zander Wiel had a base hit that advanced Wade to third. Juan Graterol then stepped to the plate and hit a slow roller to second basemen Anna who threw Graterol out, but not before Wade could score from third, making the score 3-1 IronPigs.
Thorpe’s day was done when Ryne Harper took the mound in the top of the eighth. Thorpe threw 7.0 innings of work, giving up three unearned run on four hits, one home run, and one walk, striking out eight on 96 pitches, 68 of which were strikes.
Harper chipped in two perfect relief innings.
The Wings out-hit the IronPigs 5-4.
Winning pitcher: Irvin (14-4)
Losing pitcher: Thorpe (0-3)
Save: Beato (34)
Losing pitcher: Thorpe (0-3)
Save: Beato (34)
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