Adams launches the game-tying shot as a wild pitch scores Martin for the win, 3-2.
By Caktus AI / Rochester Red Wings
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings beat the Omaha Storm Chasers, 3-2, Saturday night in walk-off fashion. LHP Anthony Banda worked five full two-hit innings in his fifth start of the year, striking out a season-high seven batters. A wild pitch from Omaha allowed SS Richie Martin to score and win the game in the bottom of the ninth.
“This is a good team win for us, and hopefully we come back tomorrow and end the first half on a good note,” manager Matt LeCroy said.
Rochester and Omaha stayed scoreless through the first three innings, with LHP Anthony Banda holding Omaha to just two base runners over that span. Then, with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, LF John Rave hit a solo home run to give the Storm Chasers a 1-0 lead. Rochester threatened to score, managing to get three runners into scoring position through six innings, but were unable to push across a run until the bottom of the seventh inning.
After a leadoff double from C Luis Torrens, SS Richie Martin tied the game up with an RBI single, extending his on-base streak to 19 games in the process. Omaha responded in the top of the eighth inning to retake the lead, plating a run to give them a 2-1 advantage. 1B Logan Porter drove in DH Brewer Hicklen with an RBI single to take the lead. They reloaded the bases, but RHP Gerson Moreno was able to escape the jam without allowing another run.
The Wings took just two batters in the bottom half of the inning to even the score once again. 1B Matt Adams launched an 0-2 pitch 410 feet to center field to tie the game at 2-2, marking the veteran’s 11th home run of the season to give him a share of the team lead. A leadoff double by Martin helped load the bases, and a wild pitch from LHP Christian Chamberlain allowed Martin to score and win the game for Rochester, 3-2.
“Matt Adams just knows how to hit. He gives us a chance every time he goes up. I think he’s doing really good against the lefties, which is a good sign for him,” LeCroy said.
LHP Anthony Banda started his fifth game of the season for Rochester, working five innings of one run baseball in his outing while striking out seven, the most he’s struck out in a game since 5/26/18 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. LHP Jose Ferrer, RHP Gerson Moreno, and RHP Andres Machado (1-0, 3.71) worked the final four innings in relief, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out four batters.
“Banda’s been able to land some secondary pitches that he wasn’t able to land before, especially his slider and changeup. He’s getting more confident. He’s getting more built up with a tough, grindy lineup,” LeCroy said.
Rochester finished 1-for-2 on ABS Challenges, while the Storm Chasers finished 1-for-4.
SS Richie Martin earned the Diamond Pro Player of the Game honors after he went 2-for-4 with a double, single, RBI, while scoring the game-winning run in the win. Martin extended his on-base streak to a team-leading 19 games and scored the first and final run for Rochester.
Rochester will wrap up the first half tomorrow afternoon as RHP Wily Peralta gets the nod in the series finale. Omaha will send RHP Alex Marsh to toe the rubber, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.