Lehigh Valley’s collapse is complete.
Rochester won its fifth game in a row, 9-5 on Saturday night. That combined with Jacksonville’s 4-2 victory at Syracuse gives the International League first-half title to the Jumbo Shrimp, who have won 10 of their last 11 games.
The IronPigs have lost five in a row and lost a seven-game lead with 14 games left in the first half, which ends Sunday.
Lehigh Valley was 1 for 12 Saturday with runners in scoring position, 3 for 45 in the series.
The IronPigs took the lead three times in the first five games of the series, but the Red Wings tied or took the lead in the next inning each time.
Game notes
Andrew Painter allowed two earned runs on five hits and four walks in five innings for the IronPigs. He threw 53 of 89 pitches for strikes and had 15 of 23 first-pitch strikes. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in his last inning thanks to a nasty curveball.
The 89 pitches are his most in a game since Sept. 3, 2022, for Reading at Hartford with 92.
Keaton Anthony extended his hitting streak to 10 games with fifth-inning single.
Justin Crawford walked three times and stole two bases to give him 26 this season, one behind Oscar Mercado for the team lead.
Roster moves
LHP Nick Vespi promoted from Double-A Reading. RHP Wil Crowe was sent back to Reading after allowing five earned runs on five hits and four walks and 3 1/3 innings in Friday’s loss.
How they scored
Top 1: Robert Hassell walked to lead off, stole second with two outs and scored on Yohandy Morales’ two-strike single. Red Wings 1-0
Top 2: Andrew Pinckney hit his eighth homer of the year, an opposite-field shot, with one out. Red Wings 2-0
Bottom 2: Garrett Stubbs led off with a single and scored on Cal Stevenson’s fourth home run of the season. Tied 2-2
Bottom 5: Weston Wilson’s first Triple-A home run of 2025 came on an 0-1 pitch with one out. IronPigs 3-2
Top 6: Trey Lipscomb singled. One out later, IronPigs reliever Lucas Sims walked Andrew Pinckney, Nasim Nunez and Robert Hassell for score Lipscomb. Pinckney and Nunez scored on Drew Millas’ sacrifice fly to deep center field. Red Wings 5-3
Bottom 7: Justin Crawford, Wilson and Keaton Anthony walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Oscar Mercado’s sacrifice fly scored Crawford. After Garrett Stubbs walked, Stevenson’s infield single scored Wilson. Tied 5-5
Top 8: Darren Baker doubled, Pinckney walked and Nunez bunted for a single to load the bases. Hassell’s fielder’s choice grounder scored Baker. Millas’ grounder scored Pinckney. Red Wings 7-5
Top 9: Morales had a hustle double to lead off and scored one out later on Lipscomb’s bloop double. Baker walked and Pinckney singled to load the bases. Hassell’s infield single scored Lipscomb. Red Wings 9-5
Up next
RHP Alan Rangel (4-2, 4.96) vs. Rochester LHP Andrew Alvarez (0-6, 4.64) in a 1:35 p.m. start from Coca-Cola Park in the first-half finale. Rangel allowed two earned runs on six hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday’s series opener, a 3-1 Rochester win.
Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
Source: Berkshire mont
Be First to Comment