Rochester rallies to post a 4-2 victory over Buffalo on Relive ‘Miracle on Ice’ Night.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings concluded their season series with Thruway rival Buffalo Bisons with a dramatic, 4-2, 10-inning victory on Friday night on ‘Miracle on Ice’ Night before 11,382 fans at Frontier Field.
Four Olympians – captain Mike Eruzione, Mike Ramsey, Dave Christian, and Neal Broten – from the 1980 Miracle on Ice team were in attendance as signed autographs and threw the first pitch with a hockey shot (see videos).
Rookie Daniel Palka walloped his 11th home run of the season in the bottom of the 10th inning to secure the come-from-behind victory.
“I almost could hear Al Michael’s voice when Palka hit that ball out of the ballpark,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade. “It was such a fun night, especially with these guys (Olympians)…It was not a ‘Miracle on Ice’ for sure, but it sure was exciting…Great crowd tonight.
“In my lifetime, that hockey game is right up there with some of the most incredible things that I’ve witnessed sports-wise.”
The Bisons grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a leadoff triple by Melky Mesa, who then scored on a groundout.
The Red Wings knotted the game in the fourth when Reynaldo Rodriguez ripped a 1-out single, then scampered home on a double by Adam Brett Walker.
“Our big bats are huge, always are down the stretch,” Quade said.
Quade waved Rodriguez home as he made a hook slide to avoid the tag on a close play.
“With two outs, you’re gonna take some chances,” said Quade. “He made a great slide to get in there…With one out, that’s a tougher call.”
Rochester starter David Hurlbut scattered 7 hits over 7 innings and struck out 3 batters.
Reliever Pat Light was touched for a run in the top of the ninth, but the Wings responded with a run of their own to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Walker drew a 1-out walk. Bryon Buxton pinch ran and raced to third on a single by Logan Schafer. Mitch Garver singled up the middle to plate Buxton with the tying run.
In the 10th, Wilfredo Tovar singled to lead off the frame. He took second on a sacrifice bunt by James Beresford. With two gone, Polka blasted a 1-2 pitch 381 feet over the right field fence to win the game.
The Wings also made the plays defensively in the field. First baseman Beresford made a couple of great plays to keep the ball from getting through to the outfield, and also made some excellent moves at first to get the out.
Rochester (70-57) lost a half game to Lehigh Valley (76-51) as the IronPigs swept a double header from Syracuse to open up a 6-game lead for the International League Wild Card berth.
*NOTES — With 17 games left in the regular season, the Red Wings go on the road for the next 8 days with games in Gwinnett (3), Norfolk (3), and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (2) before returning to Frontier Field on Sunday, Aug. 28 for their final home stand of 6 games vs. SWB (2), Syracuse (2), and Lehigh Valley (2)…The Wings close out the regular season with 3 games against Lehigh Valley in Allentown, PA.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Neal Broten shot – https://youtu.be/v8JqFsSs2qs
Mike Ramsey shot – https://youtu.be/CWcRYqx-gyY
Dave Christian shot – https://youtu.be/GzbV8JHwfso
Mike Eruzione shot – https://youtu.be/aZN01cmPhPI
Olympians interview – https://youtu.be/xK6D8DpTidQ
Manager Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/oXFjFWtFL0w