Rochester pulls out the victory in the bottom of the 9th as Eddie Rosario scores the lone run.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Tommy Milone hurled 7 scoreless innings and Adam Brett Walker drove in the lone run of the game in the bottom of the 9th to propel the Rochester Red Wings to a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Tuesday night before 3,858 fans at Frontier Field.
“Who said a one-nothing game can’t be exciting,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade. “I don’t buy that at all.
Milone (4-0) and Columbus starter Mike Clevinger (6-0) each entered the game looking to keep their perfect records intact. However both pitchers did not figure in the final outcome. Each departed after 7 innings in a scoreless tie.
“I was throwing strikes with all my pitches,” said Milone, who scattered 3 hits and struck out 8. “I was getting ahead early, which is very important with the way I pitch…then beat them with the third strike with the secondary pitches, the changeup, curveball, slider. Just keep them off-balance, don’t be predictable.”
The Wings won the game in the bottom of the 9th when Rosario led off with a walk against Columbus reliever Austin Adams. Two outs later, Walker ripped a single to right as Rosario scampered around the base path from second. Rochester manager Mike Quade waved him on home. The throw from right fielder Joey Butler was up the third base side to catcher Adam Moore. Rosario stayed to the outside of Moore and extended his left hand on his slide to touch the plate with the game-winning run.
Quade planned to send Rosario home if Walker got a hit.
“They were deep enough with Walker,” Quade said of his decision. “When you send them there you think they’ve got a pretty good shot to throw him out, but it’s got to be a good throw. It’s got to be right on line.”
“I was just trying to put the ball in play and see what happens,” Walker said. “I wanted to get the barrel on it and hit it hard enough…two strikes trying to battle to compete. Put the ball in play and see what happens.”
The Red Wings defense came up with several key plays to keep the Clippers off the scoreboard. Centerfielder Eddie Rosario ran down a fly ball at the warning track in the third, and second baseman Jorge Polanco saved a run in the sixth as he made a diving grab of the ball, after it deflected off the pitching mound, then sitting on his backside, threw out the batter at first base as the Clipper baserunner on second had to hold up at third.
“To change direction like he did off the mound, you don’t win a game like this without great pitching…and you’re going to need to make some great plays,” Quade said.
Left fielder Logan Schafer then made a nice catch on a sinking line drive to end the inning.
The victory keeps Rochester (38-27) a half game ahead of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (38-28) for first place in the International League North Division. The Red Wings also boast the best record in the IL.
*NOTES – RHP J.T. Chargois was optioned to Rochester (dated 6/13) by the Minnesota Twins after he had a rough outing in his first callup on Saturday…OF Danny Santana began a MLB rehab assignment in Rochester after straining his left hamstring on May 30. Santana has had 2 DL stints this year already. He is batting .28 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer, 10 RBI, and 16 runs scored in 31 MLB games this season…Eddie Rosario’s walk in the 9th was his third in his all 16 plate appearances after not drawing a walk all season prior to that point…The Red Wings boast the best record at home in the IL since the start of 2012, going 191-130 (.595) at Frontier Field during that stretch. Indianapolis ranks second with 186 wins over the same span…Logan Schafer joined the Red Wings on June 2, and had a hit in every gamne he has donned a Rochester uniform, but that streak was broke on Tuesday as he went 0-4. He posted his second 3-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a RBI and run scored on Sunday, and is hitting .333 (15-for-45) with 2 honers and 7 RBI.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Tommy Milone interview – https://youtu.be/spbXhK6ElOE
Eddie Rosario interview – https://youtu.be/VLiXk4lwwUQ
Adam Brett Walker interview – https://youtu.be/-0sQceiGeVk
Manager Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/4dHH4z0Kspk