BY DAN GLICKMAN
After going 6-6 on a two-week road trip, the Rochester Red Wings return home this week for a big six-game series starting Tuesday with the league-leading Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rochester is 51-55 overall but is currently 17-16 in the second half, 3.5 games behind Lehigh Valley (20-12 in second half, 56-49 overall). This is the first season that the International League uses a split-season schedule: the teams with the best overall record from each half will face each other for the league title and a chance to meet their opposite number in the Pacific Coast League at the end of the season. The Norfolk Tides won the first-half title and will play whoever finishes with the best record in the second half.
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If the Red Wings are to make their first postseason since 2013, they’ll have to win series against top teams like Lehigh Valley. It’s something they haven’t been able to do this season: dropping both games and losing another to rain at home during the season’s opening series, and forcing a 3-3 split in a road series just before the Fourth of July.
Lehigh Valley enters the series, winning six of their last 10, including their previous two. They’ve also received a new boost: right-handed pitcher Griff McGarry, Philadelphia’s No. 4 prospect according to MLB.com, was called up in recent days. The flamethrower had a 3.13 ERA in 13 games in AA Reading and will likely make his first AAA start during this week’s series after working out of the Lehigh Valley bullpen late in 2022.
The IronPigs also lost a key player over the weekend, though, as shortstop Weston Wilson was called up to fill the roster spot of Brandon Marsh. Wilson had been a significant power threat for Lehigh this season, hitting 25 home runs (third-best in the IL) and 69 RBI (eighth-best). The IronPigs are also without former Red Wing, and current league doubles leader Jake Cave, who got the call to Philadelphia late last month.
Still, the IronPigs remain a dangerous team with several names to watch. Left-handed outfielder Simon Muzziotti is the Phillies’ no. 9 prospect and is eighth in the league in batting average (.322) and stolen bases (24), as well as tied for ninth in hits (109). First baseman Kody Clemens, the son of Roger Clemens, has played in 49 MLB games this year and has three home runs in the last week. The IronPigs also have Scott Kingery, who has parts of five seasons of MLB experience.
Lehigh Valley’s main strength after the loss of Cave and Wilson comes on the mound. The IronPigs’ are tied for fourth in the league in lowest opponent batting average (.254), and are in the top ten in ERA and WHIP. Right-hander Noah Skirrow leads the team’s starters with seven wins, tied for fifth in the league despite a 6.06 ERA. Drew Hutchison has played parts of seven seasons in the big leagues and came to the Philadelphia organization this year after beginning it with Toronto’s affiliate in Buffalo. In the bullpen, Jeremy Walker has a 3.31 ERA and a 5-1 record in relief for Lehigh, while Ben Bowden has also picked up five wins as a reliever.
Although Lehigh Valley’s starters for the series’ first few games are unknown, the Red Wings have announced theirs. Right-hander Tommy Romero (4-4, 5.70) will make a rare start on Tuesday and will be followed by lefty Alex Troop (0-0, 12.00), righty Roddery Munoz (0-1, 4.66), and righty Jackson Rutledge (1-0, 5.19) on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, respectively.
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