IronPigs stun Wings with comeback win
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs stormed back from six runs down in the eighth to salvage a series split with the Rochester Red Wings, defeating the Wings 8-6 in front of 8,807 fans Wednesday afternoon at Frontier Field. The Wings will return home on Monday, August 11 for a 5:05 p.m. doubleheader, and fans can meet Buffalo Bills 1st round draft pick Sammy Watkins at the game.
Trevor May returned to the bump at Frontier Field for the Wings for the first time since 6/16 against Pawtucket (8 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER). Today marked May's first start against Lehigh Valley in his career; the Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies, the team that drafted him back in 2008. Greg Smith looked to salvage a series split with the Wings, and in the process snap the 'Pigs 10 game skid. Smith dominated the Wings in his last start against Rochester, going six innings, only giving up two hits and no runs.
Deibinson Romero extended his home on-base streak to 27 games in the bottom of the second inning, even though he never actually stayed on-base. Romero blasted the first pitch he saw to straight away center field, clearing the wall with ease. The home run was Romero's eighth on the season, which is best on the team. The Wings took a 1-0 lead over the IronPigs after two.
May was cruising through three innings, only giving up one hit, thanks to superb defense by the Red Wings. Chris Rahl, in particular, made a pair of nice catches in center, crashing into the wall on back-to-back fly balls to begin the third.
Josmil Pinto out-did Romero in the fourth with a homer of his own. Following a lead-off double by Rahl, Pinto came to the dish and sent the first pitch he saw way over the left field fence, all the way into the Plymouth Avenue parking lot across the street. Despite the first three hitters reaching base in the inning, the Wings settled for just the two runs, taking a 3-0 advantage.
Pedro Florimon led off the Wings' fifth with a single up the middle. Wilkin Ramirez then moved Florimon into scoring position with a grounder to third, which was dropped by Maikel Franco. The potential double play ball led to a three-run inning. The next batter, Dan Rohlfing, hit an RBI single into the right-centerfield gap, scoring Florimon. Doug Bernier then brought home Ramirez and Rohlfing on a double. The Wings took a 6-0 lead into the 6th.
Hector Neris came on for Smith to start the sixth. Smith pitched five innings, giving up seven hits, six runs (five earned), on 72 pitches (47 strikes). Neris came into the game riding a 10 innings pitched scoreless streak.
May retired the first two batters in the top of the seventh before being relieved by Aaron Thompson. May threw 77 pitches on the day, 55 for strikes. May didn't give up a run, giving up five hits, while striking out five 'Pigs. Thompson struck out Koyie Hill to end the inning.
Thompson was shaky in his second inning of work. He walked Tyler Henson to begin the frame, then was hit in the foot by a hard grounder by Cesar Hernandez. Freddy Galvis brought both men home with a double to pull the IronPigs within four. After a walk to the next batter, Michael Tonkin was called upon to try and preserve the Wings lead.
Tonkin gave up a single to the first batter he faced, loading the bases and bringing the tying run to the plate. The next batter hit a hard ground ball to Nate Hanson at first, who made a nice play as he caught it on a hop and quickly fired to second for the first out, however, it brought home Franco. Clete Thomas then doubled to pull the IronPigs within two runs. Cam Perkins drove in a run on a fielder's choice for the second out. Tonkin struck out Hill to end the inning, but not before the damage was done. Lehigh Valley was all of a sudden within striking distance after the top of the eighth, at a score of 6-5.
The Wings failed to score in their half of the eighth inning, keeping the lead at one for new pitcher A.J. Achter.
The lead-off man for the 'Pigs, Tyler Henson, started the inning with an infield single. He then advanced to second on a balk, and immediately after to third on a wild pitch. The IronPigs had the tying run at third with no outs. Henson was brought home easily on a double by Hernandez, tying the game at 6. Franco gave the 'Pigs the lead two batters later with a two-run shot to left field, making the score 8-6 in favor of Lehigh Valley. Franco showboated around the bases on the hit, slowing past second base to point in the direction the ball was hit. That prompted angry words from the Wings' dugout.
The Wings were retired in order by Cesar Jimenez in the ninth. Jimenez got the win moving to 3-2 this season.
Achter took the loss, falling to 3-4 on the season.
Romero and Florimon each had two hits.
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NOTES: Doug Bernier extended his season-long hit streak to 10 games, becoming the 4th Wing this season to record a 10-plus game hit streak...Deibinson Romero has now reached base safely in 27 straight home games, 2 games shy of tying the longest in the IL this season... Former Red Wing Tommy Watkins will make an appearance at the Aug. 11 doubleheader, the same night his cousin Sammy Watkins throws out the first pitch.. |
7/31 @ LHV 7:05 pm LHP Sean Gilmartin (1-2, 3.52) vs. RHP David Buchanan (5-2, 4.35) WHTK 1280 AM
8/1 @ LHV 7:05 pm LHP Kris Johnson (9-4, 2.80) vs. LHP Jo-Jo Reyes (0-2, 16.43) WHTK 1280 AM
8/2 @ LOU 6:05 pm RHP Mark Hamburger (2-2, 3.67) vs. LHP David Holmberg (1-5, 4.85) WHTK 1280 AM
8/3 @ LOU 6:05 pm RHP Alex Meyer (6-4, 3.05) vs. RHP Josh Smith (9-4, 4.42) WHTK 1280 AM
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Pics of the Day |
2001 - 7,236 fans showed up at Frontier Field to celebrate 100 years of minor league baseball The day was highlighted by former Red Wings greats such as Paul Blair and Frank Robinson signing autographs for fans.
1921 - The perennial second-division Syracuse club hires Frank J. Shaughnessy as a player/manager for the struggling Stars. It is the beginning of a 40-year tenure for "Shag" in the International League. In 1925 he was released by Syracuse after five losing seasons. Shag went on to manage at Providence, Reading, and Montreal, where he also served as General Manager. He is best remembered for introducing the "Shaughnessy Playoffs" to the IL in 1933, forever changing the way the League determined its champion. In 1937 he relinquished his managerial reins in Montreal and was elected President of the International League. He served in that role until he retired following the 1960 season, having established a length of stability unmatched by any other Minor League.
Henry Ford, 1863...Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1947...Yvonne Strahovski, 1982.
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1990 - George Steinbrenner was forced to resign as general partner of the New York Yankees by baseball commissioner Fay Vincent.
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