By Craig Potter
Rochester fails to capitalize on its scoring opportunities and loses to the Bulls in 10 innings.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings battled back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, but a grand slam in the 10th inning propelled the Durham Bulls to a 9-5 victory on Monday night before 5,356 fans at Frontier Field.
Rochester stranded 11 base runners in the game, including leaving the bases loaded in fourth and sixth innings.
The Triple-A IL All-Star game starting pitcher, Jason Wheeler, despite striking out 7 batters, was tagged for 4 runs in the first inning. Three of which were unearned when rookie right fielder Daniel Palka dropped a routine fly ball, which would have been the third out with only 1 run home for the Tides.
“Wheels couldn’t pitch around a mistake in the first,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade. “He settled down and pitched fine. Pitch-count got him (after 6 innings).”
The Bulls also took advantage of a rare miscue by third baseman Tommy Field to lead off the 10th, that resulted with the Tides breaking the tie. A strikeout, walk, fly out, and another walk loaded the bases. Jake Hager beat out an infield hit to break the tie against reliever Buddy Boshers.
With the bases still loaded,Taylor Motter, who was batting just over .200, blasted the ball over the left field fence for a grand slam. While starting his trot around the base paths, he apparently made an unprofessional comment to Boshers that upset the pitcher, and Quade.
“The reaction of Motter hitting the home run was a little less respectful than I like,” said Quade. “Maybe I’m too old school, but if my guys act like that they’re going to hear about.
“If you’re hitting just .200, you should be happy with your contact, get your (butt) around the bases.”
Quade added, “It would be a long philosophical interview on a thought of a lot of things right now when it comes to respect, not just in the game but in a lot of things.
“Maybe the game has passed me by. I didn’t appreciate it, no one appreciated it.”
The homer was the first Boshers has given up this season.
Adam Brett Walker, Jorge Polanco, and Byung Ho Park all hit solo homers for the Red Wings. Polanco also ripped a 2-run single in the 9th that tied the game at 4-4 after Logan Schafer singled and James Beresford laced a 1-out double.
“A real comeback in the 9th to tie the game,” Quade said. “To come back in the 9th then get beat is kind of tough.”
The loss also dropped Rochester (56-41) into third place in the International League North Division, a half game behind Lehigh Valley (56-40). The Red Wings trail first place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (60-36) by 4.5 games.
*NOTES – The loss was the first for the Red Wings in the 15 games when Adam Brett Walker had a home run in the contest…The 4-game sweep of Norfolk was the first time since May 13-16, 2014, that the Red Wings swept a 4-game series, either home or away, which they won against Columbus at Frontier Field. The last time the Wings swept the Tide was July 26-29, 2013.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Manager Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/lLOLlXiV4as