Lehigh Valley’s late first-half collapse continued Wednesday night when it lost 4-0 to the Rochester Red Wings in a rain-delayed game at Coca-Cola Park.
The IronPigs’ lead in the International League is down to one game over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, who won their eighth game in a row.
Lehigh Valley was 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and have managed only one run in consecutive losses to the league’s worst team with a league-worst 6.01 ERA.
The IronPigs have lost nine of their last 13 games overall. They had a seven-game lead on June 6.
The first half ends Sunday.
Keaton Anthony had two hits to extend his hitting streak to seven games for Lehigh Valley. Justin Crawford had two singles, a walk and a stolen base to raise his average to .342.
Roster moves
The Phillies acquired RHP Nolan Hoffman from the Rangers for cash and sent him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 27-year-old was 2-0 with a 5.91 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 22 games (three starts) for Triple-A Round Rock with 46 strikeouts in 35 innings.
Hoffman was a 2018 fifth-round pick of the Mariners.
RHP Austin Schulfer was activated from the 7-day IL. RHP Koyo Aoyagi was put on the Development List.
RHP Kyle Tyler (5-3, 4.31 ERA, 1.40 ERA in 12 starts with the IronPigs) was claimed off waivers by the Orioles and sent to Triple-A Norfolk.
RHP Carlos Hernandez (0-1, 5.26 ERA in 25 games with the Phillies) was claimed off waivers by the Tigers.
How they scored
Top 1: Robert Hassell walked to lead off, took third on Jose Tena’s hit-and-run single and scored on Yohandry Morales’ grounder. Red Wings 1-0.
Top 2: Darren Baker doubled and Andrew Pinckney walked to start. Nasim Nunez’s one-out single scored Baker. Hassell singled in Pinckney. Red Wings 3-0.
Top 9: Drew Millas led off with a bloop single to center and took third on Tena’s single. After Tena was caught stealing, Morales doubled in Millas. Red Wings 4-0.
Tuesday night’s ‘challenges’
An explanation from two apparent challenges by IronPigs batters in Tuesday’s loss to Rochester that were denied by home plate umpire and crew chief Jonathan Parra.
Rafael Lantigua tapped his helmet after a called third strike to end the sixth inning but quickly changed his mind.
Oscar Mercado tapped him helmet after a called second strike to lead off the home eighth, but he looked to the dugout first — which is not allowed. So, his challenge was denied. He then was given an auto strike for not being in the batter’s box with eight seconds left on the pitch clock. That was the third strike.
Mercado tried to call time out, but he already took his allotted one in between the first and second pitches of the at-bat.
Up next
RHP Nabil Crismatt (4-4, 4.06) vs. Rochester RHP Chase Solesky (2-5, 4.65) in a 6:45 p.m. start at Coca-Cola Park. Crismatt allowed only one run on three hits and a walk in six innings in his last start June 13 vs. Worcester.
Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
Source: Berkshire mont
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