By Craig Potter
Rochester comes back from 4-0 deficit to force extra innings.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings battled from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game 4-4, but ended up falling 5-4 in 12 innings to the Louisville Bats on Friday night before 8,062 fans at Frontier Field on Batman Night.
“After a 6-hour bus ride (from Columbus), getting in here at 5 a.m., to comeback from a 4-0 deficit in the seventh was great to see,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade.
“The bullpen was outstanding. You hate losing but if you give up a lead and lose, it’s a lot tougher. We came back and got ourselves in there.”
Louisville scored a run off starter Logan Darnell (8-5) in the third inning, and made it 4-0 on Carlos Triunel’s 3-run homer in the fifth. It was the first time in his 14 starts this season that he did not figure in the decision as he pitched 6 innings, giving up 5 hits, walking 3 and striking out 7.
“Logan wasn’t as sharp as he has been,” Quade said. “He got a few balls up and he made one mistake. Really though, he pitched fine.”
The Red Wings battled back against the Bats bullpen as starter Keyvius Sampson hurled 6 innings of 1-hit ball.
Tommy Field, who replaced Miguel Sano after his 5 innings playing third base and going 0-for-1 with a walk in his first-ever Triple-A game, singled off reliever Nick Routts to start the 7th. After a strikeout, Logan Schafer singled. Following another strikeout, Wilfredo Tovar walked to load the bases. John Ryan Murphy cleared the bases with a double to center. James Beresford was safe on an error, then Jorge Polanco singled home Murphy with the tying run.
Field made 3 Brooks Robinson-like plays at third base to record all 3 outs in one inning against Columbus.
“He can play some defense, that’s for sure,” Quade said. “And he can swing the bat pretty well, too. He’s been impressive no matter where we’ve put him, second, short or third, he’s played very well. I’ve got a lot of versatility here position-wise, and he’s been a big part of that.”
The Wings were returning home from a 5-2 road trip to Ohio.
“Someone was telling me Ohio has not been good to us in the past,” said Quade. “I think last year was not good to us.”
In the 11th inning, Wings left fielder Adam Brett Walker made a diving catch on a sinking line drive off the bat of Brandon Allen for the third out.
“He’s played pretty well defensively,” Quade said. “He’s worked like crazy on it. He works every day on it and sometimes hard work pays off. He’s made some really good plays, and he’s gotten a lot better with the ability he has. You always give credit to the player. It hasn’t happened by accident, he’s worked at it.”
The game remained that way until the top of the 12th when a leadoff walk issued by reliever Sean Burnett was turned into the game-winning run by Louisville.
“We used a lot of capital in the bullpen tonight, but we’re still in pretty good shape,” said Quade. “Given the game, we’re in great shape. No worries about that.”
Despite the loss, Rochester (44-30) still leads the International League North Division by 1 game over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (43-31).
The series with the Bats continues on Saturday on Star Wars Night with the first pitch at 7:05. Gates open at 6 p.m., with fireworks to follow the game.
*NOTES – Minnesota Twins INF/OF Miguel Sano played his first rehab game with the Red Wings Friday, going 0-for-1 with a walk while playing five innings. It marked the first time in his career that he played in a Triple-A game. Red Wings manager Mike Quade said Sano will play third base for 7 innings on Saturday and DH on Sunday versus Louisville. After that, the Twins will decide how long his rehab assignment will continue. “I don’t make those decisions,” Quade said.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Batmobile – https://youtu.be/ZCgt1Jc3W8I
Manager Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/ZcwZefbVBZ4