BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For the second day in a row, the Rochester Red Wings (2-5) surrendered nine or more runs as they fell 10-1 to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (6-2) Saturday afternoon.
”We just couldn’t stop the bleeding,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. “We gave them some runs in the first inning and then offensively, we didn’t make the proper adjustments to get us back into the game. Just a little rough patch of games that we need to clean up.”
Much like yesterday’s contest, Rochester fell behind the eight ball when Lehigh Valley pushed across two runs in the first.
For the fourth straight contest, Rochester committed two fielding errors. The first one came on a potential inning ending ground ball ended up in the stands after a wild throw allowed Otto Kemp to score in the first. Buddy Kennedy who reached first on a in field base hit and awarded second after the wild throw, scored on a Garrett Stubbs base hit.
The second one was also a wild throw to that then out of play into the Red Wings dugout in the seventh inning, but no runs came of the defensive mishap.
“These are plays that we need to be able to make and we are just not making them right now,” LeCroy said. “We’re not finishing a lot of plays. Right now, it’s been snowballing and we have to find a way to stop it.”
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After a 1,2,3 second inning, the IronPigs opened the flood gates. Kemp led off the third with a home run that hit off the left field scoreboard. The infielder has hit lead off homers in back-to-back contests. Cal Stevens extended the lead with a sacrifice fly before Christian Arroyo doubled to score Stubbs and Oscar Mercado.
The following inning it didn’t get much better for the Wings as the IronPigs tagged three more runs. Rochester had two outs and one strike away from getting out of the inning unharmed, but after a questionable non-strike three check swing call, Stubbs made the Red Wings pay with a line drive double that scored two runs to make it 8-0. Mercado would score Stubbs on a base hit to make it a nine run deficit.
Arroyo made it an even 10 runs with a solo home run with one out in the seventh.
”I just think we have to make better pitches,” LeCroy said. “I want to be able to get some guys in some roles when we’re winning a game. It’s a long season and we have to continue to grind and compete and hopefully turn this stuff around.”
Rochester’s offense had a slow day at the dish as they were only able to produce five hits and one run in Saturday’s contest. The Wings struck out 11 times as they were not able to figure out the IronPigs’ starter Mick Abel who fanned seven Red Wings on his own. Rochester was set down in order six times during the ballgame.
The first seven Rochester hitters were retired to open the ballgame before Stone Garrett legged out a double for the Red Wings in the third.
Trey Lipscomb for the second night in the row drove in the Red Wings only runs with a ground out that scored Juan Yepez who doubled to open up the seventh inning.
“The biggest thing is getting in a better position to hit,” LeCroy said. “We can’t be tardy. A lot of our guys right now seem to be in between. When you are in between, your swings are not where it needs to be.”
Since the home opener where Rochester tallied 10 runs, they have been held to four runs total in other four contests of the series.
Rochester will look to finish the series on a high note on Sunday at 1:05 P.M. as they will send southpaw Shinnosuke Ogasawara (1-0, 1.50) to the mound while Lehigh Valley will have righty Nabil Crismatt (0-1, 11.25) toe the slab.
”What he did opening day,” LeCroy said. “He has no restrictions and he can go 100 plus pitches. Hopefully he’ll continue to do what he did on opening day.”
last year the Wings had zero pitching to complement a decent bunch of hitters, at least until the final month.
Looks like this year we also have zero pitching. This is flat out one ugly series with a team that pretty much owns us every year.
Where have the bats gone as well. Can we just re-set and start over?