By CRAIG POTTER
Matt Hague is involved in 7 runs in the 12-3 victory over the Clippers.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Though Matt Hague collected just one hit in five plate appearances, the hit was a bases-loaded double that drove in three runs in the fifth to break open a 12-3 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Wednesday afternoon before a paid crowd of 6,707 fans at Frontier Field.
Hague later scored in the fifth, plus he drew walks on three trips to the plate and crossed the plate each time.
Hague could not recall of being involved with 7 runs on just one hit as he walked and scored three times.
“I take it myself as just doing my job,” Hague said. “We’ve got a pretty dangerous lineup one through nine.”
“He’s never really had a cold streak,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade of Hague. “He does a lot of things to get big hits and drive in big runs…You can learn a lot from a guy like that.”
Hector Santiago made his fourth rehab start for Rochester. He gave up just two hits, but 46 of his 98 pitches were balls as he walked 6, and hit one batter.
When asked how he assessed his performance, Santiago said, “Technically wild. Pitch count was up…Some days are rougher, a little hard to find the zone. I’m off until the next one and see what happens there.”
“Santiago wasn’t the guy he was the last time,” said Quade. “He didn’t have his command. It wasn’t his best day…We’re just trying to facilitate his rehab and get him back to Minnesota.”
The first walk came in the first inning with two outs, and came around to score. His sixth walk happened in the fifth with one out, and it scored as the second hit was a 2-run homer by Richie Shaffer.
The Clippers scored in the top of the first, but Daniel Palka got it right back with a 424-foot blast over the center field fence.
The Wings went ahead to stay with 2 runs in the third. Tommy Field delivered a bases-loaded, 2-run single to right.
Rochester added 2 runs in the fourth when Engelb Vielma smacked a triple to left-center. With one out, Hague was intentionally walked before Palka dribbled a hit down the third base line to score Vielma. With two outs, ByungHo Park ripped a RBI hit to left field.
The Clippers tallied two runs in the fifth on a homer by Richie Shaffer.
The Red Wings answered with four runs in the home half to put the game away. The key hit was Hague’s bases-clearing double.
Rochester tacked on 2 runs in the seventh and 1 in the eighth to complete the scoring.
“It was just a nice day offensively by everybody,” Quade said. “The bases-loaded double from Hague was, obviously, huge.
“After losing the first one and coming back and winning two was a good thing.”
The Norfolk Tides make their only trip to Rochester for a 4-game series starting Thursday night, which also is Plates Night, to pay homage to the cuisine most synonymous with the city, the garbage plate. The Red Wings will become the Rochester Plates for this game, including special jerseys to honor the dish.
*NOTES – 1B Kennys Vargas was recalled by the Minnesota Twins, who placed LHP Adalberto Mejia on the disabled list…The 12 runs the Red Wings scored tied a season high…Home plate umpire Scott Costello was hit in the mask off a foul ball by Zack Granite in the second inning. The game was delayed 15 minutes while crew chief Shane Livensparger changed into his home plate gear as Costello left the game and did not return…Daniel Palka, who went 3-for-4, including a solo homer in the first that tied the game 1-1, was ejected by Livensparger in the fifth inning rally. Palka reportedly was talking to Wings first base coach Michael Johnson, but Livensparger apparently did not like what he overheard. The two then exchanged words before Palka got the ejection…Zack Granite went 0-for-5 with an intentional walk in the fifth, from where he scored on Matt Hague’s bases-clearing double. His only hit in the last 3 games (1-for-12 with 2 walks) was the game-winning grand slam on Tuesday…The Red Wings remained 1 game behind Lehigh Valley for the wild card spot as the IronPigs defeated Norfolk, 11-5, Wednesday night.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – www.redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Hector Santiago interview – https://youtu.be/tPKKk5uffZs
Matt Hague interview – https://youtu.be/zIZ8QqYIOFg
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/CUmjRNrBIxI