By CRAIG POTTER
The Bulls score 4 runs in the 8th, then thwart a Rochester opportunity in the home half to win 6-5.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings saw a 5-2 lead go by the boards in the eighth inning when the Durham Bulls rallied for a 6-5 victory on Wednesday night before 3,977 paid attendance at Frontier Field.
“Can we skip the eighth inning?” Red Wings manager Mike Quade said. “These are the kind of losses that keep you up at night.”
Durham scored 4 runs in the rally to take the lead in the eighth,. Reliever Alan Busenitz recorded outs around a single. He was replaced on the mound by Manager Mike Quade with left-hander Buddy Boshers to face lefty hitter Jake Bauers, who foiled the strategy with a RBI double. Drew Rucinski then came on to face righty Patrick Leonard, who came through with a RBI hit. Shane Peterson then blasted a 2-run homer over the left field fence to put Durham back in front since the third inning.
“Buddy has been good and Drew has been good,” said Quade. “Nobody is perfect but that happens.”
The Red Wings put runners on first and third with none out in the bottom of the frame but were unable to cash in.
“To come back in the eighth with an opportunity and not be able to cash in makes it even tougher,” Quade said. “We weren’t able to end the eighth inning.
“There’s a lot I like in this game. A couple of hitters, we won’t take that away. (Mitch) Garver had a great night.”
ByungHo Park opened the inning with a ground rule double. J.B. Shuck came in to pinch-run and scampered to third on a single by Garver. However, Tommy Field’s liner was snared by Durham third baseman Patrick Leonard, who leaped to grab the ball and hold the runners. Former Bull Leonardo Reginatto laced the ball down third when Leonard made an excellent scoop, fired the ball to second baseman Ryan Brett, whose relay to first was in time to complete the double play and end the threat. The Wings went down in order in the ninth to end the game.
Park had an interesting at bat in the fifth as he lofted a fly ball to left field that fell in for a hit. However, he apparently lost where the ball went and was standing around home plate before realizing he needed to run to first. He just beat the throw in time for the hit, but the next three batters were retired as he was left stranded on base.
“Did you watch the replay? You can’t make that up,” Quade said with a laugh. “I think he thought he had fouled it back. I’ve been doing this a long time…but I haven’t seen a reaction like that. You see guys loose it then all of a sudden realize (they’ve got to run), but that was delayed. The left fielder took a shot.
“Once he was safe, I thought it was hilarious.”
Garver gave the Wings a 1-0 lead in the second with a home run.
Durham scored twice in the third to move in front, 2-1. Following a pair of RBI singles, the Bulls had runners on second and third with one out. Jake Bauers lined a shot to first baseman Matt Hague for the second out. The runner at third remained on the bag, but the runner at second started out for third. Hague fired the ball to second baseman Field, who ran down and tagged out the runner for the final out of the inning.
Rochester starting pitcher Aaron Slegers went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits. He also struck out 5 batters.
“Slegers was great,” Quade said. “He wasn’t as sharp as his last time (where) he was really good. Tonight he did a nice job.”
Rochester grabbed the advantage once again in the sixth with 3 runs as they batted around. Zack Granite singled. Hague, Niko Goodrum and Garver each delivered a RBI double for the runs. Garver finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.
“I was more comfortable at the plate today,” Garver said as he batter sixth today after going 0-4 in Tuesday’s 4-0 win while hitting second in the lineup.
“There are guys one through nine who you can move around anywhere,” said Garver. “We don’t have a set spot for anyone.”
*NOTES –The Red Wings came into the game with a league-best 14-3 record when scoring first…Wednesday snapped a streak of eight straight scoreless relief outings by Alan Busenitz, going back to April 22…Daniel Palka extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the second inning…Reliever Alan Busenitz had not allowed a run, prior to tonight, in 8 straight outings since April 22. Over that time he surrendered just 4 hits and 2 walks with 16 strikeouts in 12.2 innings…In roster moves, LHP Nik Turley was transferred from Double-A Chattanooga, and LHP Adalberto Mejia was recalled by Minnesota…The 3-game series concludes on Thursday with an 11:05 am schedule start…The Indianapolis Indians begin a 4-game series on Friday night, the season’s first fireworks game as Chili native Chris Bostick makes his season debut at Frontier Field with the Tribe.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Mitch Garver interview – https://youtu.be/Zlc3K6km9js
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/sGn7wscYTG8