Carter Kieboom connected on a two-run home run in the fifth inning, and the Rochester Red Wings went on to defeat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 4-1 in International League action Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park.
Kieboom connected with two outs, on his seventh home run of the season made the game 4-0 midway through the fifth. Drew Millas singled earlier in the inning and scored on the play.
Wings starter Tyler Stuart struck out six without issuing a walk over 6.2 innings of work to pick the win. The 6-foot-9 right-hander, who was promoted from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, allowed one run on one hit to pick up his first Triple-A win. He took a perfect game into the seventh and did not allow a runner on base until a one-out hit by pitch in the seventh. Scott Kingery broke up the shutout and no-hitter with a two-out RBI triple that scored Austin Hays.
Stuart allowed two balls out of the infield through the first six innings. He retired 20 of the 22 batters he faced.
Adonis Medina fanned two over without allowing a hit over an inning and a third of relief work. Rico Garcia also struck out two and retired all three batters he faced in his lone inning of work to register a save.
Dylan Crews finished the night 4-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in the win. Millas went 2-for-5 and plated a run. Brady House picked up an RBI in a 2-for-5 effort. Trey Lipscomb doubled and scored a run for the Red Wings.
Rochester was able to get on the board early. Crews started the game for the Red Wings with a single and then stole second base. House then hit a ground ball single to center field, allowing Crews to run home and take the 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Red Wings added to the lead in the second inning. Lipscomb doubled and eventually scored on a Crews base hit.
The Rochester Red Wings now have a 2-0 series lead over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and look ahead to tomorrow, Thursday August 22, as they are on the road again in Coca-Cola Park with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
This may or may not be important going forward but both Clippers and Wings have 28 games left and Wings trail by 2.5 games. The half game might be a factor in who wins the 2nd half since Columbus has already cancelled a game (July 11th against Indianapolis) that won’t be made up.
Its entirely possible that half game in the standings could make the difference…which would really be a shame. The fact that I’m even remotely still considering that the Wings will remain in contention to the end is in itself a miracle of Red Sea proportions! (given our recent history of failure)
The other option is still Omaha catching Columbus. They are 4.5 back making that less likely. Omaha already won the 1st half so they can’t win the 2nd half for playoff purposes (lame as they are and they REALLY need changing) If the Wings get ahead of Columbus in that scenario, and finish runner-up, they would get the playoff seed. (I don’t see this happening)
Wings are playing good ball 2nd half, no mistaking that…because of or despite what the Gnats have done to them. Can they continue? If they manage to stay close thru the end of this 12 game roadie, then maybe its time to really become believers.
Wings destroy IronPigs Thursday 12-3. Welcome back Mr Blankenhorn with his 25th HR and 71 RBI. He has a legit shot still of hitting 30 HR’s. Not too many Wings since the opening of Frontier Field have hit 30.
With the win, Rochester is now just 1.5 games behind Columbus. The way the Wings are playing (9 wins in last 10) they honestly look like contenders. Hope I don’t jinx them.
The lineup is solid, top to bottom at the moment. And they are getting the pitching they never had 1st half. Worst they can do in Lehigh is split the 6 games but I’m counting on them to win this series.
Go Wings.