BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Strong pitching is one of the biggest keys to winning a base ball game.
The Rochester Red Wings earned a 4-1 victory and a series split against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs behind a strong all-around pitching performance and a late inning offensive push.
”Today’s game was the biggest one of the series,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. “Good team effort. This was a big win for us to keep it close in the standings and hopefully it builds into next week and we win the series.”
Brad Lord started for Rochester and threw five solid innings where he fanned five IronPigs and gave up a single run on three hits and two walks.
”The mentality is just keep attacking hitters, quick innings and give your team a chance to win the game,” Lord Said.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO.
Lord faced Lehigh Valley in the series opener where he threw five innings of two run ball with four strikeouts. The right-hander has given the Red Wings five plus innings of work where he surrendered two runs or less for the last four starts for Rochester.
”He made some pitches with his changeup and some sliders to the back foot of the lefties,” LeCroy said. “A lot of good things for him. It’s hard to face the same team twice in a series. I thought he did a nice job both days to keep us in it.”
After Lord surrendered the ball after the fifth inning, the Rochester bullpen had a stellar outing where they set down all 12 IronPigs they faced for the final four innings of the ballgame. The bullpen struck out six Lehigh batters including three coming from Joe La Sorsa who fanned the side in the sixth inning. Orlando Ribalta earned the win out of the bullpen with a solid one inning of work with a strikeout. Rico Garcia earned his 19th save of the season that included a game ending punch out.
”It’s usually never that easy,” LeCroy said. “Those guys are guys we’ve leaned on the whole year. A lot of good stuff happening and hopefully the momentum from today carry’s into Tuesday.”
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Lord said. “Once your outing is done, the confidence I have in them is amazing. They’ve been really good all year and they continue to impress.”
The Rochester offensive started off slow with Joey Meneses picking up Rochester’s first and only two hits through the first six innings. Meneses picked up a base hit in the second inning and then broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning when he launched a 0-1 pitch into the Lehigh Valley bullpen in left field.
”I like that his at-bats are better,” LeCory said. “He’s swinging at strikes, getting his barrel out in front of him to get the ball in the air.”
Lehigh Valley tied the game the following a sacrifice fly RBI from Buddy Kennedy to score Simon Muzziotti who collected a one out base hit.
Two innings later, Travis Blankenhorn untied the ballgame with his new single-season high 24th home run that went over the right field wall. Blankenhorn finished the series with five long balls including four in the last three contests.
”It’s definitely a good feeling,” Blankenhorn said. “Anytime you can get a career high in anything, it’s usually good. Happy I did it and hopefully I keep it going.”
The Pottsville, Pennsylvania native finished the series against Lehigh Valley with a .545 batting average. The left-handed hitter extended his extra-base and hitting streak to eight games.
“I’m not gonna change anything,” Blankenhorn said. “Get the ball in the strike zone and when I get a good pitch to hit, don’t miss it.”
In the eighth inning Rochester added some insurance with Jake Alu scoring on wild pitch and Meneses scoring Carter Kieboom on a sacrifice fly.
After the victory on Sunday, Rochester finds themselves one game back of the International Division second half lead. They trail the IronPigs and the Columbus Clippers (17-9, 49-51) for first place. The Red Wings will look to continue their solid start to the second-half season with another home series on the horizon for them on Tuesday.
“Every game is big,” LeCroy said. “Every series win is big. We’re gonna play Omaha who’s got a good team and we’re gonna turn around and play Buffalo who always plays us good and scrappy and then you go back to Lehigh Valley for a big series. This is why to me it’s important to put a team together that can play for something at the end of the year.”
The Rochester Red Wings (16-11, 54-46) will welcome the Omaha Storm Chasers (14-12, 63-36) to Innovative Field Tuesday evening at 6:45 p.m. Both team’s starters are yet to be announced.
Wings saved their season
(so far) with a solid win Sunday…and for a change, a strong performance from the pitchers. (a rarity) With the win they split the series with an excellent ballclub and find themselves just one game out of first.
So, still in contention, with the 1st half champs coming to town next.
Blankenhorn with another HR. He’s in a groove. Thats 24 and certainly on track to being a rare Red Wing with a 30 HR season. His next RBI will be #70.
very modest crowd of around 5,000 looked on. Other than this game though, attendance for the series was excellent. Fans are supporting the team. So I hope they can stay afloat.