BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings fell to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Saturday, 6-4, on a walk-off two-run home run by first baseman John Hicks. The loss drops the Red Wings to 2-2 in the second half, tied for fourth in the International League East.
The loss came after Rochester tied the Phillies affiliate, 4-4, in the top of the ninth on a two-run single by right fielder Nomar Mazara.
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Lehigh Valley scored first in the bottom of the second, as shortstop Scott Kingery got a hold of an 0-2 pitch by starter Anthony Banda and sent it over the left-center field fence for his ninth home run of the year to give the IronPigs the 2-0 lead. The IronPigs added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 3-0.
Rochester began to come back in the fourth, as Mazara led off with a ground ball that deflected off the first baseman’s glove into right field for a single. Left fielder Jake Noll followed with a double into center to bring home Mazara to cut into the IronPigs lead, 3-1.
The Red Wings drew closer in the top of the sixth, as Mazara led off the inning with a triple before being knocked home later in the inning by a single from catcher Drew Millas to narrow the score to 3-2.
After Lehigh got a run back with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, Rochester tied it up in the ninth on Mazara’s single, the capper to a 3-for-4, two RBI night for the 28-year-old Dominican. However, the Red Wings stranded the go-ahead run at third to send the game to the bottom of the ninth scoreless.
The IronPigs ended the game quickly in the bottom half of the inning, getting the leadoff man on on a hit-by-pitch before Hicks hit out the 3-2 pitch for the game-winner.
Rochester’s Tyler Danish took the loss to fall to 0-2. Lehigh Valley’s Ben Bowden took the win to move to 2-1 despite blowing his second save of the season.
The Red Wings and IronPigs continue their series on Sunday at 6:35 p.m. Rochester right-hander Wily Peralta (2-5, 5.64) is scheduled to face Lehigh righty Noah Skirrow (6-3, 5.80).
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