King shines in loss as Lehigh Valley falls 3-0 at Rochester

Chuck King gave Lehigh Valley every chance to steal one, and that is what made the 3-0 loss at Rochester feel so much more frustrating than an ordinary shutout. The IronPigs right-hander worked five steady innings at ESL Ballpark in Rochester, New York, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four, but the offense never rewarded him for keeping the game close.

Rochester struck first through Yohandy Morales, who opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning and then doubled home another run in the third to put the Red Wings ahead 2-0. That was enough support for Luis Perales, who was sharp through five innings and carried a no-hit shutout into the sixth before handing the game to the bullpen. Perales struck out three and walked four, and Rochester improved to 21-19 while Lehigh Valley slipped to 19-21.

The game still had a hinge point, and it came in the sixth when Rochester added breathing room on a safety squeeze bunt by Robert Hassell III that scored Dylan Crews. That third run forced Lehigh Valley to chase a bigger hole, but the IronPigs never found the one swing they needed. The best opening came in the eighth, when three singles loaded the bases and suddenly the tying run was at the plate. Eddy Yean ended that threat with a double play, then finished the shutout by getting the final five outs for his sixth save.

Even in defeat, King’s outing mattered. The 28-year-old Coppell, Texas, native and Texas Christian University product had made his Triple-A debut on April 23, when he beat Durham with six innings of two-run baseball, and this start showed the same kind of value: strike-throwing, poise, and a chance to keep a club in the game. Carter Kieboom’s two-hit night was one of the few offensive bright spots, lifting his average to .331, but Lehigh Valley never produced the timely hit that could have changed the mood of the night. The series continued Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. ET, with Ryan Cusick set to start for the IronPigs and Andry Lara lined up for Rochester.