Red Wings drop 5-game winning streak to Lehigh at home

By: Elias Vega-Diaz ROCHESTER, NY - With an overcast sky as the backdrop over ESL Ballpark, the 22-19 Rochester Red Wings faced off against the 19-22 Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs on a misty Thursday evening. Being short on pitching, Rochester would fight early on before losing 6-3 at home.

Third baseman Yohandy Morales fielding a ball. Thursday, May 14, 2026. (Photo: Joseph Territo/Red Wings)

The Red Wings quickly got to work in the bottom of the first, jumping out 2-0 against the IronPigs. With Dylan Crews pushed to third off a Yohandy Morales double, Andres Chaparro brought both home off a ground ball single up the middle of the infield. Coming into the matchup, Morales had posted a .411 AVG, .477 OBP, and 1.203 OPS for the Red Wings in his last 27 games, going 7-10 this series against the Ironpigs. This included his two home runs the day before, which were both hit in the same inning against Lehigh Valley. Lehigh would strike back with fireworks at the top of the second. With two outs and Dylan Carlson situated at second, Catcher Paul McIntosh would belt a gap-shot double to drive him in. This would bring Center Fielder Steward Berroa, who would keep the ball high enough to drop past the right field wall for a two-run home run to put Lehigh over 3-2. After a pitching change to end Gott's night, Rochester's Holden Powell would turn over the inning by striking out Lehigh's Liover Peguero. Rochester would tie things up at the bottom of the second, evening the score at 3-3. With one out and Yohandy Morales moving to third off a wild pitch from Lehigh's Tucker Davidson, Andrew Pickney would ground out towards Davidson, allowing enough time for Morales to speed through home plate as the play at first would be made. Rochester would continue the inning, loading the bases off of two walks and an infield single from Philip Glasser, before a groundout from Levi Jordan up the middle would end the inning. Lehigh would reclaim the lead to make the score 4-3 at the top of the 4th. With Christian Cairo set up at second off a steal and one out, Berroa would collect his third RBI of the day with a line drive to right field. Rochester would then end the inning with pitcher Holden Powell striking out two to end the inning. Lehigh would add on to their lead at the top of the 8th with Otto Kemp up to bat. With Cairo at third and Paul McIntosh at first, Kemp would pull through with a hopper past the infield to bring Cairo home, extending their lead 5-3. Lehigh added another run after Rochester brought in reliever Seth Shuman, with Peguero collecting his first RBI today with a sharp ground ball past the left side of the infield, scoring McIntosh from third to make it a 6-3 ballgame. "It was a nice little battle," manager Matt LeCroy said postgame. "At the end, it was too much...I can't complain about how the guys battle." Powell would finish the game with career highs in pitches thrown, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Powell pitched to the tune of 3.1 innings with 6 strikeouts over 44 pitches.

Pitcher Holden Powell tosses from the mound. Thursday, May 14, 2026. (Photo: Joseph Territo/Red Wings)

"We got clearance that he could throw 60-65 pitches... He really stepped up and did the job for us," Lecroy commented. "Hopefully, he gains confidence at this level (from being moved up to AAA)." With the loss, Rochester moves to 22-20, moving down to 5th in the International League. The Red Wings will face Lehigh on Friday for game four of the series, with first pitch slated for 6:45 pm.