The Rochester Red Wings extended their win streak to five on Saturday while playing International League spoiler, defeating the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 9-5, in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Down 3-2 in the top of the sixth, the Red Wings outscored Lehigh Valley 7-2 in the final four innings to knock the IronPigs out of first place in the International League’s first half. Due to tie-breakers, in fact, the win eliminated the IronPigs from any chance at earning the first half crown, clinching a playoff spot instead for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, who just last week swept the Red Wings in six games.
The five wins and spoiler role against Lehigh Valley are a turnaround for the Red Wings against the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate’ and in some ways provide a certain revenge for Rochester. Until this week, the Wings were 3-9 against Lehigh Valley, including a stretch of eight straight losses spread across series in April and early May.
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The Wings were led by center fielder Andrew Pinckney, who went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the second inning. The 24-year-old Alabama native also scored three times, including the then-go-ahead run in the sixth when catcher Drew Millas hit a sacrifice fly very deep. The speedy Nasim Nunez, tagging all the way from second, followed Pinckney to the plate, scoring to make it 5-3 even before Lehigh Valley shortstop Rodolfo Castro made a throwing error in an attempt to get him at home. Pinckney would later score again during the Red Wings’ decisive two-run eighth inning that put them ahead for good, coming home on a Millas ground-out to extend the Wings’ lead to 7-5.
How often do you see two runs score on a sacrifice fly???
Drew Millas delivers and the Wings lead 5-3 in the 6th!! pic.twitter.com/j6tpzt9Xat
— Rochester Red Wings (@RocRedWings) June 22, 2025
Millas ultimately drove in three runs on the night despite only reaching base once on a walk, while designated hitter Robert Hassell III continued his hot streak since getting demoted from Washington with a hit, two walks, a stolen base, and three RBI on the night. Yohandy Morales and Trey Lipscomb both recorded two hits, a double and an RBI, while Darren Baker also hit safely twice including a double.
Seth Shuman started the game and went five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out two. Konor Pilkington earned the win in relief for a one-hit seventh inning, while Patrick Weigel allowed one hit in a 1.1 inning save, his third of the season.
The Red Wings look to finish up the first half of the season on Sunday as they go for their second six-game sweep of the year. Left-hander Andrew Alvarez will take the mound against the IronPigs’ Alan Rangel. First pitch is 1:35 p.m. in Allentown.
So Wings ended up the 1st half with an improbable ‘sweep’ of the Pigs. Todays game was cancelled since it had zero bearing on the standings…thanks to the Wings taking it to Lehigh.
Now, they have a bit of momentum and an opportunity to start over. Can they do it? It would be nice for Dan & Co to be at least in the running for a few weeks. Play at least winning ball the final 75.
the pitching is still brutal overall so that will tell the tale. If they can somehow improve there…especially the bullpen, things could be looking up.
It all starts again Tuesday against Syracuse.