IronPigs shut down Wings 5-1

 

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs beat the Red Wings 5-1 Sunday afternoon at Frontier Field. The loss dropped the Wings five games behind Lehigh Valley for the International League wild card playoff spot. 

After an off day Monday, the Wings host the Pawtucket Red Sox in a three-game series that opens Tuesday night when the Wings salute stadium organist Fred Costello with a bobble head giveaway and a pre-game ceremony. Complete promotions details below...

Sunday's game featured a pitching match-up of Wings lefty Andrew Albers against IronPigs right-hander Jake Thompson. Albers' nine wins was third in the International League entering play Sunday, while Thompson was tied for second with 10 wins. Albers breezed through a 12-pitch top of the first inning, and Thompson set down the Wings in order in the bottom of the first.

Albers ran into some trouble in the second inning. After allowing a walk and single to start the inning, Brock Stassi grounded out to second base to score Darin Ruf from third. With a runner at second base, Cedric Hunter drilled an RBI single to center field to put the IronPigs up 2-0.

Albers settled down in the third inning, but nearly ran into trouble with two outs. Ruf launched a line drive to left field that hit off the wall, but Adam Brett Walker made a fantastic throw to second base to get Ruf out.

Thompson was dominant to start the game, as he set down the first ten Wings batters in order on just 47 pitches. Wilfredo Tovar utilized his speed in the fourth as he turned a long line drive to center field into a triple. One play later, Tovar scored on a groundout by Daniel Palka to decrease the Wings deficit to 2-1.

In the fifth inning, the IronPigs loaded the bases and scored another run on a sacrifice fly by Nick Williams. Marcus Walden relieved Albers following the play. Albers lasted just 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. He threw 88 pitches, 60 of which were strikes. Walden managed to escape the inning without allowing another run to score, as he struck out Ruf to end the frame.

The IronPigs threatened in the sixth, as Andrew Knapp doubled and later advanced to third. Walden was able to set down the next three batters in order to end the inning, however. After allowing a single to start the seventh inning, Ryan O'Rourke replaced Walden. The right-hander threw 1.1 innings while giving up one unearned run on two hits with two strikeouts.

The Wings nearly got through the seventh unscathed, but an errant throw to first by Tommy Field allowed a runner to score to extend the IronPigs lead to 4-1. O'Rourke was relieved by Alex Wimmers after recording just one out with one hit and one strikeout. With runners at second and third, Wimmers kept the IronPigs from scoring by picking up a lineout and a strikeout to end the inning.

The Wings loaded the bases against Thompson in the bottom of the seventh, after a hit batter and a pair fo two-out singles. Pinch-hitter Darin Mastroianni worked a full count before grounding out to second, ending the Wings' best scoring chance of the day.

Thompson won his fifth straight decision, pitching seven innings with four hits and an earned run allowed. He didn't walk a batter, struck out two, and threw 101 pitches - 59 for strikes. 

Wimmers struck out one and allowed one hit in his 1.2 innings of work. Neil Ramirez pitched the ninth inning for the Wings, with a run scoring on a wild pitch.  

Dalier Hinojosa came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning, and struck out Byungho Park for the first out. Hinojosa then asked for the trainer and coaching staff to come out, and he was allowed to throw a couple of warm-up pitches. Play resumed and the Wings sandwiched two walks around a strikeout, putting runners at first and second with two out. Hinojosa struck out John Ryan Murphy for the final out of the game. 

The IronPigs out-hit the Red Wings 10-4.

 

Winning Pitcher: Thompson (11-5) 
Losing Pitcher: Albers (9-4) 
Save: none

 

NOTES: Single-A Cedar Rapids left-handed pitcher Lachlan Wells is the Twins minor league Player of the Week...Wells made one starts for the Kernels on Monday against Dayton, pitching 8.0 shutout innings with two hits allowed, one walk and nine strikeouts, earning the win...Wells has made six starts for the Kernels, going 3-2, 1.57 ERA (34.1 IP, 6 ER) with six walks and 29 strikeouts...he was signed as an undrafted free agent August 11, 2014 out of Newcastle, Australia... Twins Baseball.com has reported that Red Wings RHP Jose Berrios will be recalled by the Twins.

 

 

Sunday Score Special: The July 31 combined score of 6 will be the price of an oil change ($6) this coming Wednesday or Sunday at participating Rochester area Monroe Muffler/Brake & Service and Mr. Tire locations. Click here for complete details.

 

 

 

 

 

8/2 vs. PAW 7:05 TBA vs. LHP Henry Owens (6-5, 4.17)
8/3 vs. PAW 7:05 LHP Jason Wheeler (8-2, 2.70) vs. RHP William Cuevas (6-5, 4.47)
8/4 vs. PAW 1:35 LHP Pat Dean (4-6, 5.29) vs. LHP Brian Johnson (3-4, 4.50)

 

 

 

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Tuesday, August 2 - 7:05 p.m. vs Pawtucket

PROMOTIONS: Fred Costello Bobblehead Giveaway Presented By AT&T In honor of Fred Costello's 40th season as Red Wings organist, the Wings will be giving away a bobblehead with his likeness to the first 1,000 adult fans courtesy of AT&T. Fan 4-Pack Presented By M&T Bank and Messenger Post Media 4 reserved tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas and 1 yearbook for just $36 ($40 day of game) courtesy of M&T Bank and Messenger Post Media. $1 OFF tickets if you bring an unwrapped toy. The toys will be donated to Hillside's Special Santa Program.

 

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1980 - Rochester pitcher Steve Luebber allowed only one run in 8.2 innings to help the Red Wings to a 2-1 victory over the Braves at Silver Stadium. The crowd of 12,498 in attendance (many of whom came to see the San Diego Chicken) was the highest of the season.
 

1993 - It's another great night for Chipper Jones and the Richmond Braves, who beat up on their cross-state rivals from Norfolk 7-1. Jones bangs out three hits in the game, including a home run in front of 12,259 fans at Harbor Park. The performance raises Jones' batting average to .325, 2nd in the International League to Charlotte's Jim Thome. Jones, only weeks away from his Major League debut, would go on to lead the IL with 174 hits in 1993, a Richmond franchise record. At year's end he was named the International League Rookie of the Year as well as the shortstop on the IL Postseason All-Star Team.

 

1958 - Mark Cuban, American businessman (Owner of Dallas Mavericks)... 1965 - J.K. Rowling, English writer (Harry Potter)... 1979 - B.J. Novak, American writer and actor

1978 - Pete Rose singles off Phil Niekro to extend his streak to forty-four games, as the Reds edge the Braves 3-2. Rose ties Willie Keeler's 81-year-old National League record, achieved when foul balls didn't count as strikes.

1975 - Eagles, "One Of These Nights "... 1999 - Christina Aguilera, "Genie In A Bottle "... 2007 - Plain White T's, "Hey There Delilah"