Doubleheader split in matinee
Game One
It was a scoreless game going into the top of the fourth inning, thanks in part to strong efforts by starting pitchers Vance Worley and Eric Hacker. Hacker breezed through the lineup his first time through, retiring the first nine batters he faced and racking up four strikeouts.
The only real offensive highlight of the first three innings was Ben Revere's all-out hustle on his third inning double
The IronPigs' Brandon Moss blooped a double down the left field line with two outs in the fourth, breaking up Hacker's streak of retired batters.
Designated hitter Dustin Martin smashed one out of the park on an 0-2 pitch in the bottom of the fourth, giving the Wings a 1-0 lead. Martin's hit broke an 0-for-19 slump by Rochester designated hitters.
Through six innings, the 23-year-old Worley and the veteran Hacker has sparkling worksheets: a total of just five combined hits, and a combined 10 strikeouts. Phil Dumatrait took over for Hacker in the seventh, and after a quick strikeout Dumatrait got into trouble - allowing a single and two walks to load the bases. That prompted Dumatrait's exit, and hard-throwing righty Jim Hoey's entry into the ball game. Hoey struck out Matt Miller for the second out, but brushed Erik Kratz with a pitch to force in the tying run. Hoey struck out Josh Barfield to escape further damage and give the Wings the chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh.
Worley walked Martin to put the winning run on first, and Tosoni missed two bunt attempts. But all discussions of bunting technique and managing strategy became moot when Tosoni drilled a two-run, game-winning homer over the wall in right field to give the Wings a 3-1 win.
Game Two:
Top Twins pitching prospect Kyle Gibson allowed two base hits in the top of the second inning but got out of trouble with three quick outs, including a strikeout and allowing no runs.
Dustin Martin, who was 2-for-14 in the recently completed series, added another home run in the bottom of the second for an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third Lehigh Valley's Brandon Moss homered tying the game at 1-1, but Gibson quickly ended the inning with a strikeout.
Gibson allowed one run in the top of the fifth, on an RBI single by Cory Sullivan, for a 2-1 Lehigh Valley lead.
Rene Tosoni continued his clutch hitting with a two-RBI double, driving in Jeff Bailey and Matt Brown to put the Wings ahead. But Rich Thompson's one-out solo homer, off Chuck James in the top of the seventh, deadlocked the game at 3-3.
Ben Revere reached first on a fielder's choice and, with two outs in the seventh, attempted a steal of second. Revere appeared to beat the throw at second, but over slid the bag and was tagged out. Revere jammed his right knee on the base and was taken out of the game, limping off the field.
The IronPigs posted the winning runs off James (0-1) and Kyle Waldrop in the eighth inning, with Josh Barfield's single the key hit.
NOTES: RHP Anthony Slama was activated from the disabled list this morning. Slama was placed on the disabled list to start the season with a rash on his right shoulder. Slama was 2-2 with a 2.20 ERA with 17 saves (led Red Wings) in 54 games for Rochester last season. LHP Ryan Mullins was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Single-A Ft. Myers this morning as well. Mullins was placed on the disabled list to start the season with a left groin pull. Mullins was 4-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 19 games (16 starts) for Rochester last year...A season ago, Lehigh Valley and Rochester split the season series 8-8. Rochester was 3-5 at Coca-Cola Park and 5-3 at Frontier Field. |
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Matt Tone Update
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