Scranton/Wilkes-Barre erupts for a 7-run frame in posting an 8-3 victory over Rochester.
By CRAIG POTTER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings just had one of those days Thursday afternoon where a rookie pitcher experienced one bad inning that cost the team the game.
The North Division leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders broke loose for 7 runs in the fourth inning en route to an 8-3 victory before a paid crowd of 6,602 fans at Frontier Field.
Despite the defeat, the Red Wings (75-56) will hold at least a 3-game lead over Lehigh Valley if the IronPigs beat the Syracuse Chiefs at home Thursday night.
The Wings scored first in the bottom of the third. J.B. Shuck led off with a single and Anthony Recker doubled him home for the 1-0 lead.
The RailRiders, however, responded quickly in the top of the fourth, as back-to-back home runs from Starlin Castro and Greg Bird off starter Chris Heston (0-2) gave Scranton/Wilkes-Barre a 2-1 advantage, but the visitors from the Keystone were not done.
The ‘Riders batted around before the Wings finally were able to record an out. Irondequoit native Cito Culver lofted a sacrifice fly as the sixth batter in the rally, but the ball was dropped. He was credited with a RBI and later scored. The shortstop also made a fine running catch on a ball hit by Engelb Vielma to record the final out of the game.
Heston gave Rochester 3 innings (plus 8 batters) on the mound in which he allowed 8 hits and 7 runs (6 earned) while walking 2 and striking out 1 hitter.
“Hess was good for three innings,” said Red Wings manager Mike Quade. “You take that one inning out and he was okay.”
Luke Bard came on in relief for Heston in the fourth and gave up 2 more runs that were charged to Heston before getting out of the inning with the RailRiders holding a commanding 7-1 margin.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Leonardo Reginatto looked to start a rally with a walk. Levi Michael, who was making his first plate appearance in Triple-A after being called up from Chattanooga to replace Zack Granite, ended the inning with a flyout.
Michael replaced second baseman Tommy Field after the top of the fourth inning.
“His thumb is bothering him,” said Quade. “I guess that is a day-to-day thing. His first at bat he grimaced on a couple of swings.”
Ji-Man Choi added a solo home run in the top of the fifth for SWB.
Bard hurled 2.2 innings in relief, allowing 1 run while walking 1 and striking out 5 before being replaced by Mason Melotakis with two outs in the top of the sixth. Melotakis pitched 2 frames, walked 3 and struck out 1 before being replaced by Jake Reed. He worked 1.1 innings and allowed 1 hit.
“They’ve (relievers) been good. We’ve relied on them all year,” Quade said. “We’re pitching-based and that’s, I’m sure, going to continue. And we try to score runs any way we can.”
In the bottom of the eighth, Rochester tallied a pair of runs on sacrifice flys from Matt Hague and Daniel Palka.
*NOTES – The Buffalo Bisons come in for a 3-game weekend series with fireworks Friday and Saturday night, and a Sunday matinee to close out the homestand…OF Zack Granite was promoted to Minnesota replacing C Jason Castro (7-day concussion DL)…OF Levi Michael was transferred from Double-A Chattanooga…Leonardo Reginatto has reached base safely in 6 straight games dating back to Aug. 17 with his walk in the fourth.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – www.redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/DxQz1SolcK0