By: Zach Harnischfeger
ROCHESTER, NY--- The Rochester Red Wings hosted the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to start a six-game series at Innovative Field. The Red Wings came into the game on a four-game losing streak, and they were able to snap that streak after a ninth-inning rally gave them a 4-3 win.
"We gave up some runs, but we were still able to keep it close," Rochester Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. "We needed this win since we had a tough series in Syracuse where we didn't play as well as we would like. Tonight was a big night for us and hopefully, this sets the tone for the rest of the week."
Both teams were kept in check offensively, as no runs were scored through the first three innings. Lehigh Valley struck first in the top of the fourth inning after Buddy Kennedy doubled and drove in Rafael Marchan to give the IronPigs a 1-0 lead.
The Red Wings answered back in the bottom of the fourth. Drew Millas led off the inning with a double. Two batters later Travis Blankenhorn launched a two-run home run to right field, his 20th of the season giving Rochester a 2-1 lead.
"He threw me a couple of heaters that I didn't swing at," Blankenhorn said. "I was looking soft, got to two strikes and he threw me what I was looking for."
In the top of the fifth after a single by Lehigh Valley's Carlos De La Cruz, Cal Stevenson tripled to bring home De La Cruz and tie the game at two apiece. Then in the sixth inning, Kennedy blasted a solo home run, his 10th of the season, to take the lead 3-2.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rochester went on a rally to win the game. Joey Meneses led off the inning with a double. He was then pinch run for by Erick Mejia. Two batters later Jake Alu singled and sent Mejia home, tying the game at three apiece.
In the final play of the game, Rochester's Dylan Crews singled to IronPigs shortstop Scott Kingery. Kingery then committed a throwing error, which allowed base runner Jack Dunn to score the fourth and game winning run for the Red Wings.
"That rally gorilla has been on our side this year," Blankenhorn said. "Jake Alu coming off an injury and coming up huge like that, we give credit to him. Credit to Jack Dunn for hustling at the end of the game and to Dylan Crews for hitting the ball. There are a lot of teammates there that came up big for us."
With the win, Rochester sits at 14-8 in the second half of the season and 52-43 overall. Both teams will be back in action tomorrow night at Innovative Field with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. Mick Abel (2-7, 6.88 ERA) is set to start on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while Rochester's starter is TBD.
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