The Red Wings split a doubleheader with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Sunday at Frontier Field. The Wings won the opener 1-0, and dropped the second game 7-1. The league will enjoy a three-day All-Star Break, leading up to the Triple-A All-Star Game in Buffalo Wednesday night; the Wings resume play here on Thursday night July 12 against the Toledo Mud Hens.
The first game featured Rochester right-hander Nick Blackburn, making his first start since being optioned to the Wings Wednesday. Blackburn's opponent was the league's top pitcher, Tyler Cloyd - who will start on the mound for the International League All-Star Team Wednesday night.
Both starters worked around three baserunners over the first two innings, with Wings All-Star representative Pedro Florimon singling to lead off the first inning.
Rene Rivera was a big part of the Wings defense, throwing out two runners attempting to steal second.
The game was forced into extra innings after neither team was able to score in seven. Florimon led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk, and then was pushed over to second on a sac-bunt by Matt Carson. Two batters later, Danny Valencia ripped a single into left field to drive in the run, and the Wings took the first game 1-0. Blackburn got the win, pitching all 8 innings and allowing 9 hits. David Purcey picked up the loss for the Iron Pigs.
Click here for the game one box score
Game Two:
Rochester's starter for game two was Steven Hirschfeld, making his sixth start of the season. He faced RHP Tyson Brummett, who came into the game with a record of 3-1.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka extended his hitting streak to six games after leading off the bottom of the first with a single. Carson followed up with a walk, but the Wings were unable to capitalize on the chance.
The IronPigs posted their first runs of the day in the second inning, when Michael Martinez drilled a three-run homer to right field. Kyle Hudson singled in another run and when Pete Orr added a three-run homer, Lehigh Valley had an early 7-0 lead.
Hirschfeld was replaced in the fifth inning by RHP Dan Sattler. Hirschfeld finished his day pitching 4 innings, with 6 hits, 6 earned runs, and 3 strikeouts. Sattler retired all six batters he faced, striking out one.
Luke French pitched the seventh inning for the Red Wings. In the bottom of the seventh, Danny Valencia helped avoid the shutout with an RBI single off Philippe Aumont.
