Wings Miss Rare Chance To Sweep
By: Thad Brown
Updated: July 9, 2011
The Wings still have not swept a series since 2009.
Lehigh Valley jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The lead off batter, Rich Thompson, got a infield single then advanced to second on a wild pitch by Rochester starter Andy Baldwin. He then scored on a single by Delwyn Young. Baldwin worked out of trouble in the top of the second. He allowed to first two batters to reach base before settling down to strike out the side.
The Wings got the run back in the bottom of the second. Aaron Bates led the inning off with an infield single, then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Lehigh Valley's starter Ryan Feierabend. Bates scored when Bailey hit a scorching double down the left field line.
In the bottom of the third Bailey added another RBI. Jair Fernandez reached on a throwing error by Pigs third baseman Jeff Larish. Brandon Roberts hit a single. After Trevor Plouffe and Delmon Young poped out and flyed out respectively, Bates walked to load the bases. Bailey hit an infield single to score Fernandez and give the Wings a 2-1 lead.
The IronPigs immediately took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth. Baldwin gave up a lead off walk followed by a double to put two runners in scoring position. Cody Overbeck hit a single to knock both runners in. After a double play cleared the bases, Erik Kratz hit a long solo homer, giving the 'Pigs a 4-2 lead.
But Bailey continued his spectacular night in the bottom of the 5th. Plouffe led the inning off with a double down the third base line. Young then popped out and Bates struck out. Bailey came up and hit a first pitch home run that landed in the left field visitors bullpen. Bailey was responsible for all four Wings runs up to this point and was just a triple away from the cycle.
But the tie game didn't last. Baldwin allowed the first two batters in the top of the six to reach on walks. Overbeck then hit a sacrifice bunt to put both runners in scoring position. Fernandez made a spectacular throw from his knees to first base to get Overbeck out. A single by Larish scored the first run of the inning and knocked Baldwin out of the game. Cole DeVries came in from the bullpen and got a fielders choice ground out from Kratz that scored another run, putting the IronPigs up 6-4. They went on to add another run in the seventh on a double and single.
The Wings got one run back in the bottom of the seventh. With reliever Justin De Fratus now in for the 'Pigs, Roberts led the inning off with a single and Plouffe followed with a walk. Young, already 0-for-3 on the night, struck out. Dustin Martin then pinch-hit for Bates and hit a sharp ball to third base. 'Pigs third baseman Larish committed his second error of the night, allowing the ball to skip through his legs. Roberts scored while Plouffe advanced to second, with Martin at first. Bailey then made his first out of the night by grounding into a double play to end the inning, leaving the score 7-5.
