Redwings Swept in Doubleheader IronPigs, Look to End Three-Game Skid Friday

By Christopher Drummond

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For the first time since April 30, the Rochester Red Wings find themselves searching for answers after dropping three consecutive games.

The Red Wings were swept in a unique quasi-doubleheader by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Thursday at Innovative Field, falling 18-3 in the completion of Wednesday night's suspended game before coming up just short in an entertaining 11-9 loss in the scheduled seven-inning nightcap.

Despite an offensive surge in Game 2, Rochester couldn't overcome defensive miscues and timely hitting by Lehigh Valley, which secured its third straight victory in the series.

"This is something that we are not accustomed to," Red Wings manager Matthew LeCroy said. "We have to bounce back and get back to work tomorrow to see if we can be in the win column."

The opener resumed Thursday after being suspended Wednesday evening because of unplayable field conditions. Play picked up in the top of the fifth inning with Lehigh Valley leading 2-0, but the game quickly spiraled away from Rochester.

The IronPigs exploded for 16 runs after the restart, pounding out extra-base hit after extra-base hit in an offensive onslaught. Paul McIntosh and Otto Kemp each homered, while Steward Berroa and Dylan Carlson drove in four runs apiece. Every Lehigh Valley starter recorded at least one hit in the 18-3 rout.

One of the few bright spots for Rochester came in the eighth inning when Abimelec Ortiz launched a solo home run over the right-field wall for his 15th homer of the season.

Utility player Phillip Glasser also provided valuable innings in relief, tossing two effective frames after entering on the mound.

The Red Wings were also dealt a pair of injury concerns. Infielder Seaver King exited Wednesday night's game after his first at-bat with an oblique injury and was later placed on the seven-day injured list, sidelining him for the remainder of the series. Catcher Harry Ford was struck in the head during Game 1 and left the contest after remaining on the ground for several moments. He walked off the field under his own power before Riley Adams took over behind the plate.

Yohandy Morales also made his first professional appearance at second base during the opener.

Following a 45-minute break, the teams returned for the scheduled seven-inning second game, and the Red Wings quickly found themselves in another early hole.

Keaton Anthony blasted a two-run home run to straightaway center field—his 10th of the season—to give Lehigh Valley a 2-0 lead. The IronPigs extended their advantage to 4-0 behind an RBI double from Robert Moore and an RBI single by Berroa.

But Rochester answered with its biggest rally of the night.

The Red Wings scored five unanswered runs, capped by a towering grand slam from Morales that electrified the crowd and gave Rochester a 5-4 lead. The blast was Morales' 18th home run of the season and the Red Wings' first grand slam of the year.

The advantage was short-lived.

Kemp answered in the next inning with a two-run homer—his second home run in as many games and eighth of the season—to put Lehigh Valley back in front, 6-5.

Rochester refused to go away.

Trey Lipscomb crushed a two-run home run to restore the Red Wings' lead at 7-6. The blast was his 15th homer of the season, establishing a new career high.

The decisive moment came in the top of the sixth.

With two outs and Rochester one out away from escaping the inning, Berroa lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game at seven. Moments later, Felix Reyes delivered the knockout blow, launching a three-run homer over the left-field wall to put the IronPigs ahead 10-7.

The Red Wings mounted a late rally but couldn't complete the comeback, falling 11-9 and extending their losing streak to three games.

"We just didn't play good enough defensively and didn't pitch well enough to put up zeros," LeCroy said. "We played well enough offensively in Game 2, but just didn't do enough on the defensive side. I believe in my guys, and we'll come back tomorrow and try to get back in the win column."

LeCroy also reflected on the recent retirement of former Red Wings catcher Tres Barrera, who has accepted a coaching position with Lamar University Baseball.

"It was an emotional talk that I had with Barrera," LeCroy said. "I was here when he was a baby, and I'm here with him at the end. He is going to do well as a coach. I told him it's not always about the wins and the losses, but about how you impact people as a coach. Sometimes you have to have these bumps in the road to see where you're at as a team and how your team will grow through adversity."

The Red Wings will look to salvage a split of the four-game series when they host the IronPigs in Friday night's finale. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

This version reads more like an Associated Press or newspaper game story, with a stronger opening, cleaner transitions, and a more polished rhythm while keeping your reporting and quotes intact.