By CRAIG POTTER
David Hurlburt scatters 6 hits over 7 innings in earning the victory.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings built a 4-1 lead over the Toledo Mud Hens, but then had to hang on for a 4-3 triumph on Saturday night before a paid crowd of 10,872 fans at Frontier Field.
“Another one-run game,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade.
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Matt Hague ripped a double, then advanced to third on a wild pitch where he scored when Kennys Vargas ground out to first.
The Red Wings doubled their lead in the fifth as Niko Goodrum led off with a double, and took third when the ball was misplayed by the Toledo right fielder. Leonardo Reginatto brought him home with a single up the middle.
Rochester starting pitcher David Hurlbut threw 90 pitches over 7 innings, scattering 6 hits and allowing one run in the seventh.
“We went with the curveball and slider tonight,” Hurlbut said. “I talked with (catcher John Ryan) Murphy about throwing more changeups. We had a pretty good mix.”
“We’ve got to get a few more runs to play with when a guy is pitching that well,” Quade said.
Shortstop Tommy Field, playing for Engelb Vielma who manager Mike Quade gave the day off, made a terrific catch of a pop up in foul territory, then nearly doubled off the runner at first.
In the eighth with a runner on first, Field robbed Omar Infante of a hit when he dove to his right, rose to his knees and fired the ball to first baseman ByungHo Park in time for the out.
“He threw from his knees for the out, and that was huge,” Quade said.
“I haven’t played Field in the outfield forever, and he’s okay with it. He’s got the right mind set and he’s got the skills. I just have the luxury of playing him where I need him.”
Jacoby Jones followed with a RBI single off Rochester reliever Alex Wimmers. John Curtiss also was tagged for a run in the ninth.
However, the Wings staged a 2-out rally in the bottom of the eighth that proved crucial. Goodrum delivered his second double of the contest as Reginatto drove in his second run with a single. John Ryan Murphy then singled and Edgar Corcino came through with his third RBI as a Wing, which proved to be the game-winning run.
*NOTES – Daniel Palka is expected to rejoin the Red Wings on Sunday, and if he arrives in time for the 1:35 start he will play, according to Manager Mike Quade. Palka suffered a broken finger on his left hand in his final at bat in the 11th inning on May 27, and has not played for the Wings since…Edgar Corcino (9 games) and Niko Goodrum (6 games) both extended hitting streaks in Saturday’s game…The Red Wings improved to a league-best 42-9 when scoring first…The series concludes with a Sunday matinee at 1:30 pm. FIRST RESPONDER’S DAY: Genesee Valley Motors has purchased thousands of tickets so local police, fire, and EMT units can enjoy a Red Wings game for FREE! We’ll be pitting local first responders against each other in all on field promos…ROBERT PANARA STAMP EVENT: The United States Post Service will set up a temporary office at Frontier Field with a one-of-a-kind Robert Panara Postmark. Robert Panara, a long time Red Wings season seat holder, was a pioneer in Deaf Studies at RIT and recently had a stamp produced in his honor.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – www.redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
David Hurlbut interview — https://youtu.be/HLnYw0nNiWc
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/li9lcHifgFQ