BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings started their series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs losing three straight – their worst losing streak since April turned to May and putting them on the brink of a series loss. They then won two straight as the Independence Day weekend came through. And so, the fate of the series came down to Sunday, where perhaps the Red Wings could salvage a series split.
It was not to be – despite holding a lead for much of the game, the Red Wings allowed a game-tying run in the eighth and then two more runs in ninth as they fell 5-3 to the IronPigs.
The loss sent the Wings to a 4-2 series loss, and moves their record for the second half to 6-6 (51-34 overall).
Early on, pitching dominated, with Rochester’s Chandler Champlain throwing five innings of three-hit ball, allowing two runs – one on a groundout and another on a sacrifice fly – while striking out four.
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“Champ threw the ball really well, gave us a shot to stay in it,” said Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy.
With two outs in the third, Abimelec Ortiz got the Red Wings onto the board against Lehigh starter Drake Fellows, finding an 0-2 80 MPH slider and sending it well over the right-center field fence for his 16th home run of the season to halve Lehigh’s lead to 2-1. The Red Wings later moved ahead in the fourth, when Harry Ford, Andrew Pinckney, and Joey Wiemer all singled, with Ford scoring the tying run on Wiemer’s single up the middle. Pinckney then moved ahead on a Trey Lipscomb sacrifice fly.
The bullpen held up for a few innings after Champlain left after five, with Konnor Pilkington and Tom Cosgrove (both making their first appearance for the Red Wings this season) throwing hitless innings. Jack Sinclair struggled in the eighth, however, walking two before Felix Reyes drove in the tying run with a grounder to left. Although Zach Penrod came in and escaped the inning thanks to a flyout and a double-play, his replacement – Gust Varland – allowed two singles, a walk, and then another single to Robert Moore to put the IronPigs ahead 5-3 in the top of the ninth. Rochester was unable to get a man on in the ninth, sending them down in defeat.
“We grabbed a lead there in the fourth inning, but we just couldn’t hold it,” said LeCroy, summing up the game.
The contest started soon after two major transactions were announced for the Red Wings. The first was the call-up to Washington of reliever Eddy Yean. Arguably the best pitcher in the Rochester bullpen this season, the Dominican right-hander has gone 2-1 with nine saves with a 3.60 ERA in an International League-leading 39 games pitched this season. His first appearance with the Nationals came during Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh, where he threw two scoreless innings before being sent down again after the game to make room for another fresh arm for their bullpen. It’s likely, given his good showing, that he’ll be called up again in the near future.
“It never gets old, telling somebody for the first time that they’re going to the big leagues,” said LeCroy of Yean. “And for Eddie, he deserves this opportunity. He’s pitched really well here, he shown that he can dominate lineups.”
LeCroy noted that Yean had gotten his strikeout numbers up (he struck out 45 in 40 innings for the Red Wings), but especially praised his work ethic.
“He will take the ball every single day, I can’t say that about a lot of people that I’ve managed,” he said.
To help make room for Yean on the 40-man roster, the Nationals have designated for assignment outfielder Robert Hassell III. Once one of the top prospects in the Nationals organization and a part of the famed Juan Soto trade that also brought CJ Abrams, James Wood, and MacKenzie Gore to the Washington system, Hassell has struggled in Rochester this season, slashing .215/.304/.289 with a .593 OPS and two home runs in 63 games. While it’s possible that Hassell will clear waivers or accept a minor league assignment, it will likely be a few days before that is clear and it’s possible that another team may claim him off waivers or sign him should he decide to become a free agent.
“My message to Robert was this is not the end, it’s not, he’s young, things just hadn’t gone his way,” said LeCroy. “If he comes back we’re going to do everything in our power to get him in a good spot, like he was last year.”
Rochester begins its final series before the All-Star break on Tuesday when they travel to Worcester to play the Red Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. After the coming series, the Red Wings will take a break, which LeCroy admits they – and every other team in professional baseball – need.
“I think it’s something that’s much needed, not only for guys in AAA, but the big leagues is the same way,” he said. “So hopefully we can win the series [in Worcester], take a break, and then come back and be refreshed and go out and try to win the second half.”
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