Rochester records 2nd shutout while amassing 9 extra-base hits in the 9-0 win.
By Rochester Red Wings
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Jake Cave hit four doubles and Sean Poppen fired 7.0 scoreless innings as Rochester blew out Syracuse 9-0 Thursday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
The Red Wings (23-33) have now won three in a row for the first time this season. They’ve also won back-to-back series for the first time since May, 2018.
Every Red Wing recorded a hit and four players had at least two knocks. Cave’s four doubles were among the nine extra-base hits for the Wings in the game. He has at least one hit in 13 consecutive games.
Poppen (3-0) did not allow a base runner to reach third base. He yielded just two hits, hit a batter, and walked two while striking out eight. The Harvard product has won three of his four Triple-A starts this season.
After going quietly in the opening inning, Cave and LaMonte Wade Jr both doubled and scored in the 2nd frame to give Rochester a 2-0 lead. Zander Wiel’s team-leading ninth homer of the season was a two-run blast during a three-run 3rd as the Red Wings expanded their lead to 5-0. After a Nick Gordon RBI double in the 4th, Jordany Valdespin hit a two-run homer in the 5th to make it 8-0.
Cave had three doubles entering his final at-bat in the 9th inning. He hit a sinking liner in front of Mets (29-30) left fielder Tim Tebow. Tebow slipped in pursuit of the ball and Cave reached second base with ease. Brent Rooker drove Cave in with a single to cap the scoring at 9-0. Rooker now has four straight two-hit games.
Rochester looks to keep the momentum going with a weekend series at Pawtucket this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday with single games on Saturday and Sunday.