Wings Outlast IronPigs, 7-6
June 28, 2023 - International League (IL)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
The Rochester Red Wings took down the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 7-6, in the first game of the second half of the season. The Wings took an early 5-0 lead by the third inning, but the IronPigs knotted it up in the fourth inning. As part of a five-RBI day, RF Blake Rutherford plated two runners to give Rochester the advantage in RHP Jackson Rutledge's Triple-A debut.
The Red Wings hopped on the board just three batters into the first inning after a groundout from RF Blake Rutherford plated 3B Jake Alu. DH Franmil Reyes clobbered the next pitch from RHP Nick Nelson 111.8 MPH over the centerfield wall to quickly give Rochester a 3-0 lead. The hit registered as the third-hardest hit by a Wing this season and Reyes's hardest-hit ball this year.
Rutherford continued the scoring for the Wings in the top of the third inning, collecting his third home run with Rochester this year, a two-run shot that traveled 414 feet and gave the Wings a 5-0 lead. Lehigh Valley added a run back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a solo home run from 1B Darick Hall. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the IronPigs tacked on three more runs to tie the game. LF Simon Muzziotti scored first on a fielder's choice ground out before SS Weston Wilson drove in two runners with an RBI single. Hall followed him up with another RBI single to tie the game at 5-5.
The game would remain scoreless until the top of the ninth inning, when Rutherford collected his fourth and fifth RBI of the game, the first time since 5/14 with Harrisburg that Rutherford collected five RBI in a game. The performance marked the first time since Victor Robles on 6/13 against SWB that a Rochester hitter drove in five runners. His one out single to left field plated SS Richie Martin and Alu to break the stalemate and gave the Wings a 7-5 lead. Lehigh Valley added a run back in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the lead to 7-6 on an RBI single from Hall, but RHP Gerson Moreno finished off the IronPigs to seal the win for the Wings.
RHP Jackson Rutledge started on the mound for the Wings in his Triple-A debut. He went 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on two hits while walking six and striking out three batters. Four Wings relievers held the IronPigs scoreless, working a combined 5.1 innings, allowing one run striking out nine batters while walking none and allowing five hits. RHP Gerson Moreno (4-4, 2.41) earned the win, while LHP Ben Bowden took the loss for Lehigh Valley.
RF Blake Rutherford is Wednesday night's Diamond Pro Player of the game after he went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a single and five RBI. Rutherford drove in Rochester's first run of the night on a groundout, and followed it up in the top of the third inning with his second two-run homer in six games since being transferred to Rochester. Rutherford now holds a seven-game hitting streak since getting moved up to Triple-A.
Rochester will return to action tomorrow night for the second game of their six-game series against Lehigh Valley. RHP Jose Ureña is scheduled to make the start for the Wings, with RHP T.J Zeuch on the bump for the IronPigs. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
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