Rochester drops the seesaw 8-7 contest in 10 innings to the RailRiders.
By Alex Morgan / Rochester Red Wings
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Following back-to-back shutouts in the first two games of the series, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders offense came alive, scoring early and often to cool off the Rochester Red Wings, 8-7, in 10 innings Friday night at Frontier Field.
After the first two games of this series featured intense pitching duels, and a combined four runs scored, both offenses turned it on, combining for 21 hits and 15 runs.
Multi-hit games from first baseman Joey Meneses, shortstop Luis Garcia, and right Fielder Nick Banks led the charge for the Red Wings offense.
Meneses put together his eighth multi-hit outing, and his second four-hit game of the season, giving him the Red Wings lead in that category. Two of Meneses’ knocks were doubles, giving him seven on the season, behind only Jake Noll for the team lead in the category. Meneses finished the game 4-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI, and 2 runs scored.
Down 7-6 in the sixth inning, Meneses hit his second double of the game, allowing Garcia to come around and score the tying run. The game would remain tied 7-7 through nine innings, as the Wings went into extra innings for the third time this season
With a runner on second base to start the top of the 10th, Scranton/WB (10-16) Catcher Max McDowell singled home the go-ahead run.
Down one in the bottom of the 10th, the Wings managed to load the bases, bringing designated hitter Jake Noll to the plate with a chance to win the game, but the RailRiders were able to shut down the Red Wings comeback and walk away with the win.
Right fielder Nick Banks continued to showcase his hot bat, picking up two hits and scoring two runs. The lefty has now hit safely in 19 of the 20 games he has played so far.
Nats top prospect, RHP Cade Cavalli got the start for the Wings, going 4 2/3, allowing six earned runs on seven hits, while striking out six.
Despite Cavalli’s struggles, the Red Wings bullpen continued to shut down the RailRiders offense, with the combination of Alberto Baldonado, Tyler Clippard, Jordan Weems, and LHP Francisco Perez pitching 5 1/3 innings, giving up one run, on two hits while striking out three.
The Wings (15-12) and RailRiders will meet again on Saturday for a doubleheader at Frontier Field. Rochester will send RHP Sterling Sharp (1-0) to the mound in game 1, where he will face off against RHP Clarke Schmidt (0-0).