By: Liam Hoffmann
ROCHESTER, NY-- After the IronPigs went ahead 8-0 in the third inning, Rochester couldn't prevail in a duel for first place in the International League. Through four innings, Rochester's pitching staff combined for six earned runs allowed with two more sacrificed unearned. The offense also did little to bolster Rochester's odds of winning. Only three baserunners got in scoring position all day and the team swung 1-for-5 overall in such situations.
The Red Wings ended prospects of a shutout in the bottom of the fourth on Travis Blankenhorn and Alex Call's bats. Blankenhorn doubled before Call did the same and drove Blankenhorn in. In the sixth, Carter Kieboom delivered a solo home run for Rochester's second score.
Kieboom was the only multi-hit Red Wing. He had a second-inning single plus a ninth-inning walk to supplement his home run. Before tonight, Kieboom was yet to record a hit or walk since the All-Star break.
"He's been swinging it and getting opportunities," Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. "The homer was one of the best balls I've seen him hit in a long time."
Kyle Luckham was Rochester's starting pitcher. Luckham was assigned to Rochester from Nationals Double-A affiliate Harrisburg on Wednesday and appeared in his first career game for the Red Wings this evening. After no runs surrendered through two innings, in the third, Luckham allowed four earned runs. On the whole evening, he allowed six hits and was also credited the loss.
"Luckham made his first start in Triple-A and battled," LeCroy said. "It was good to get him out there and get his feet wet. I know he'll be better next time...he was good to both sides of the plate, he had a good mix."
Luis Reyes pitched the middle stages of the game for Rochester. He went three innings and let up three hits with no earned runs. He relieved Tim Cate, who allowed two earned runs in one inning after replacing Luckham.
"Reyes gave us three good innings and some length coming into tomorrow with the 11 o'clock game," LeCroy said. "Cate's been a big part of our bullpen. He's been streaky but when he's good he's hard to hit."
While escaping the first two innings with the scoreboard empty, Rochester was unsuccessful in doing so in the third. Kody Clemens connected on a ground rule double that brought across Scott Kingery who singled earlier. Lehigh Valley was walked into run two before Kennedy sent a sac-fly to left field that scored run three.
In the bottom half, Rochester got their first runner in scoring position of the game, but the opportunity ultimately came up empty. Jake Alu, making his second Red Wings appearance since being activated from the seven-day injured list yesterday, walked to begin the half-inning. Darren Baker's later single got Alu to second base, but Rochester got nothing more out of the third.
In the fourth, the Red Wings defense couldn't stop the bleeding that began the inning prior as Lehigh Valley tacked on five more runs. Matt Kroon, Cal Stevenson and Simon Muzziotti recorded an RBI each while Darick Hall had two. Three of the five runs came with two outs.
Lehigh Valley tallied their ninth run in the fifth with the help of a throwing error by catcher Drew Millas. Cal Stevenson stole second and Millas' throw was high, allowing Stevenson to reach third. Kody Clemens hit a sac-fly that scored Stevenson. Kennedy struck on a one-run double in the ninth for the game's last score.
Tomorrow will see an early start for each side as Rochester and Lehigh Valley will face off at 11:05 a.m. Jackson Rutledge (4-6, 7.32) is anticipated to start for the Wings. David Parkinson (2-4, 5.52) is probable to be the starting arm for the IronPigs.
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