STAFF REPORTS
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Lehigh Valley IronPigs scored a pair of 10th inning runs to defeat the Rochester Red Wings 4-2 Monday afternoon at Frontier Field in the season finale of the 2018 season.
Rochester took first inning lead for the fourth time in the last five games after Nick Gordon started a two out rally against Lehigh Valley starter Ranger Suarez. After drawing a walk, Gordon scored on a double from Post-season All-Star Kennys Vargas to put the Wings ahead 1-0.
Wings starting pitcher Chase De Jong kept the IronPigs scoreless until encountering trouble in the fifth. After hitting Zack Green to open the inning, a double and a sacrifice fly allowed by De Jong brought home Green to tie the game at 1-1.
19-year-old Victor Tademo made his Triple-A debut for the Red Wings and recorded his first career hit in the fifth inning after being recalled from Single-A Cedar Rapids on Sunday. Tademo finished the day going 1-for-4.
John Curtiss came on for De Jong in the sixth after the starter worked five innings. He allowed just one run on four hits while walking one and striking out six. De Jong threw 61 pitches, 43 for strikes.
Rochester threatened to take the lead back in the sixth after Zander Wiel tripled with one out before Suarez was able to retire Gordon and Jon Kemmer to end the inning.
Ryan Eades came on to pitch the seventh. Curtiss went one perfect inning while striking out a pair of IronPigs. The perfect inning was Curtis’ third straight appearance without allowing a hit.
In his final start of the regular season, Suarez went 6.0 innings for Lehigh Valley allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three. He threw 64 pitches, 48 for strikes.
Heading into the ninth still tied at 1-1, Rochester brought in Ryne Harper after Eades went 2.0 innings allowing just two hits while striking out three.
In the bottom of the ninth, Vargas blooped a double to left field to put the tying run in scoring position. After an intentional walk to Jon Kemmer, Jordan Pacheco popped out. Jeremy Hazelbaker grounded out to send the game into extra innings.
Lehigh Valley went ahead in the 10th inning after a double by Zach Green brought home placed runner Danny Ortiz. The ‘Pigs added a pair of insurance runs to take a 4-1 lead. Luke Bard came in to relieve Harper and escape further trouble.
Alex Perez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning to make the score 4-2.
Winning pitcher: Casimiro
Losing pitcher: Harper
Save: none
Losing pitcher: Harper
Save: none
Box Score: Click here for the box score and play-by-play narrative.
