Plates Fall Despite Three Hits From Rutherford

The Rochester Plates fell to Lehigh Valley for the second consecutive night, 10-2, giving the IronPigs a 2-1 series lead. DH Blake Rutherford accounted for half of Rochester’s runs tonight, going 3-for-5 with a homer and a double, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs got off to a fast start in the top of the first inning. After a pair of walks to 1B Kody Clemens and DH Darick Hall, C Rafael Marchán hit an RBI triple to right center field, driving in Clemens and Hall to give the IronPigs an early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first inning, DH Blake Rutherford blasted a solo home run to right field, his fifth with the Plates this season, getting the Plates on the board 2-1.

In the top of the third inning, Rafael Marchán hit his second triple of the game to left center field and drove in SS Weston Wilson to extend the IronPigs lead to 3-1.

The IronPigs scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning. LF Simon Muzziotti reached second base on a throwing error by the Plates pitcher to lead off the inning. Two batters later, 3B Esteban Quiroz doubled and brought home Muzziotti to make it a 4-1 game. After a passed ball allowed runners to advance to second and third, 2B Scott Kingery hit a two-run single to left field which drove in Quiroz and RF Brewer Hicklin to give the IronPigs a 6-1 lead.

The Plates added a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a leadoff double by Rutherford and a pair of walks to DH Jake Noll and RF Erick Mejia to load the bases, SS Richie Martin was hit by a pitch, scoring Rutherford to make it a 6-2 game.

In the top of the eighth inning, Marchán led off with a single and moved to third after a double by Quiroz. Marchan scored on a wild pitch to give Lehigh Valley a 7-2 lead. Later in the inning, Kingery drove in Quiroz on a sacrifice fly to make it 8-2. The next batter, Kody Clemens launched a two-run home run to right field, his 15th of the season, extending the lead to 10-2.

RHP Tommy Romero made his eighth start for the Plates Thursday night, tossing 4.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out five. LHP Anthony Banda came in relief, tossing 2.0 innings, allowing three unearned runs on two hits while walking one and striking out two. RHP Tanner Rainey went one inning, allowing one hit and striking out one. RHP Hobie Harris pitched the eighth inning, allowing four earned runs on four hits while walking one and striking out one. Infielder Jack Dunn came on to pitch in the ninth inning allowing no runs and three hits.

For the second consecutive night, Diamond Pro Player of the Game honors go to DH Blake Rutherford. The lefty picked up his first three-hit game with Rochester since 7/27 at Worcester, going 3-for-5 with his fifth homer as a Plate. He now has 12 home runs this season between Rochester and Double-A Harrisburg, one shy of his career-high (2022 with CLT).

Rochester looks to snap their short two-game skid Friday night. RHP Roddery Muñoz is slated to make the start against IronPigs RHP Nick Nelson. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.Find the box score attached here