Nick Gordon’s homer keys Rochester in erasing a 4-run deficit in the night cap.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Nick Gordon’s first Triple-A homer came at a VERY opportune time for the Rochester Red Wings.
Down to their final strike, Gordon capped a 4-run final frame with a 3-run homer that sent the Wings to a 7-5 win over the Syracuse Chiefs in the nightcap and a sweep of the doubleheader.
For Rochester (38-38) it is their first twin bill sweep of the season in 7 attempts.
But it didn’t come easy. After Kennys Vargas’ team-leading ninth homer of the season gave the Wings a 1-0 lead, the Chiefs would respond with five unanswered runs to take a 5-1 lead after four innings.
The Red Wings cut that deficit in half with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth from catcher Juan Graterol — who was making his debut with the Wings.
The score remained 5-3 into the seventh, when LaMonte Wade ignited the rally with a leadoff double. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Zack Granite drove him home with a groundout.
Gregorio Petit and Graterol reinvigorated the rally with back-to-back one-out singles. Byron Buxton then struck out setting the stage for Gordon who drove a 2-2 offering from Wander Suero over the right field wall giving Rochester the 7-5 win.
Nick Anderson tossed 2 scoreless innings to earn the win and Gabriel Moya slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh to earn his third save of the season.
The Wings took the opener 2-1 behind a strong start from Fernando Romero, who allowed just the 1 run on 6 hits in 6 innings to earn his first Triple-A victory.
Gordon and Leonardo Reginatto each collected RBI singles in the victory.
Rehabbing Twins infielder Jorge Polanco picked up 4 hits over the 2 games.
The Wings open a 3-game homestand against the first place Lehigh Valley IronPigs (45-33) on Friday night at Frontier Field. Southpaw Stephen Gonsalves (5-3, 4.56) gets the nod in the opener for Rochester.
*NOTES — Aquinas graduate and Gates native, Chris Bostick, the center fielder for the Indianapolis Indians, has been chosen to play in the International League All-Star game. The 31st annual gathering of the classification’s top stars will take place at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, July 11 at 7 pm EDT. The Huntington Bank Triple-A All-Star Game presented by Gildan will be broadcast live on MiLB.TV and the Triple-A All-Star Game Radio Network on July 11 and will be broadcast on MLB Network on July 18. All-Star festivities in Columbus begin with the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby and Skills Competition on Monday, July 9. Fans who are interested in more information on the events, or would like to purchase tickets, are encouraged to visit the official website of the host Columbus Clippers (www.clippersbaseball.com)…In roster moves on Thursday, INF Jorge Polanco had MLB rehab assignment transferred from Single-A Ft. Myers; C Juan Graterol was signed by the Minnesota Twins to a minor league contract and assigned to Rochester; RHP Kohl Stewart was transferred from Double-A Chattanooga; C Jordan Pacheco was placed on the disabled list with a right knee contusion, retroactive to June 26; and LHP Dietrich Enns was transferred to Double-A Chattanooga… The Red Wings are 24-16 away from Frontier Field this season and have the best road winning percentage (.600) in the league.