BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings had a chance to retake first place in the International League second half on Wednesday but instead fell back into second, as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs pounded Red Wings pitching for 18 hits- the most given up by Rochester this season- en route to a 10-2 win. The IronPigs scored at least one run every inning from the third through the fifth, including five runs in the fourth, while the Red Wings managed five hits all night.
The loss sends the Red Wings (14-9 in the second half, 52-44 overall) into a second-place tie with the Syracuse Mets, who lost to Buffalo in a day game. Lehigh Valley (15-8 in the second half, 49-47 overall) moved into first with the win. The three teams entered the day tied in the top spot for the second-half title.
“We took a big game last night and weren’t able to carry that momentum into today,” said Red Wings manager Mat LeCroy. “Sometimes you have these games where you got to flush it.”
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Right-hander Kyle Luckham started the game for the Red Wings, making his AAA debut. The 24-year-old Californian did well early on, allowing leadoff singles in the first and second but pitching his way around them both times. The IronPigs jumped on the newcomer in the third, knocking in three runs to take the 3-0 lead. They added five more in the fourth, chasing Luckham before continuing to hit against reliever Tim Cate to put Lehigh up 8-0.
Luckham gave up six hits and six runs (four of them earned) in three-plus innings, while walking two and striking out one. An error by Carter Kieboom with one out in the third helped open the floodgates to the Lehigh Valley offense, which LeCroy noted post-game.
“It went a bit different after that,” he said. “Still, it was good to get him out there, get his feet wet, and I know he’ll be better next time.”
The Red Wings got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Alex Call, and Kieboom hit a solo shot in the fifth to make it 9-2, but the Red Wings never seriously threatened the rest of the way. Lehigh Valley’s offense was paced by Cal Stevenson (4-for-6, RBI) and Kingery (4-for-5), while third baseman Buddy Kennedy– who went 4-for-4 against the Red Wings on Tuesday- continued to terrorize Wings pitching with a 3-for-4 night, including two RBI and a double.
The Wings will have a quick turnaround with a day game scheduled for Thursday, which their manager hopes will help them move on from the defeat.
“You better, otherwise it’ll snowball on you,” LeCroy. “But I know the guys here know it’s part of baseball; you got to be able to come in tomorrow.”
Rochester and Lehigh continue the series with that early 11:05 A.M. start on Thursday. Rochester sends righty Jackson Rutledge (4-6, 7.32) against Lehigh lefty David Parkinson (2-4, 5.52).
Once again, the pitching staff failed to show and the Wings fell so far behind, it seemed they had little desire to get back in it. Just one (of many) forgettable games that had no redeeming qualities. Except that it was over.
Hopefully they will put on a better show tomorrow afternoon.