Rochester slugs its way to a 7-4 win over the Mud Hens.
By Ryan Hagen
TOLEDO, OH. — The Rochester Red Wings won their third consecutive game Friday night with a 7-4 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field.
Rochester grabbed a 3-0 advantage only to see the Mud Hens rally to tie the score.
Jolted by Ben Braymer’s performance on the mound, the Wings’ hitters scored three more runs. Jake Noll started it off, hitting a single up the middle to give the club a base runner. A wild pitch and a fielder’s choice got Noll all the way to third, and Nick Banks joined him on base soon after, working a walk. Andrew Young took advantage of the Rochester runners, homering well over the center-field wall, and the Wings took a 6-3 lead over the Mud Hens. Young’s home run was the first of his career as a Red Wing.
Braymer delivered another scoreless inning out of the bullpen, and the Rochester batters took advantage yet again. Andrew Stevenson led off for the Wings, and tripled down the right-field line, putting Rochester in a prime position to add to their lead. Noll singled for the second time on the night, and Stevenson scored easily from third to expand the Red Wings’ lead to four runs.
Alberto Baldonado took over on the bump for Braymer and picked up where the southpaw left off. Baldonado pitched 2.0 innings of relief, allowing just one Toledo hitter to reach base safely. The Wings handed the ball over to Carl Edwards Jr. who allowed one run through 1.2 innings and put Francisco Perez on the mound, who secured the final out and the Red Wings’ third win of the season.
The Rochester bullpen has been notable through the first four games of the season. Heading into the fourth game of the season, Wings’ relievers led Triple-A in earned run average (1.05) and strikeouts (33). On Friday night they allowed just one run through 6.1 innings while striking out six batters.
Stevenson had quite the night at the plate for Rochester. The lead-off man finished with two triples, a double, and a single, batting 4-for-5 at the plate, rounding third to score twice for the Wings. Noll and Young also had notable performances, but it was ultimately a group effort from the club, who combined for twelve hits, with five Rochester batters knocking in a run.
In the top of the 1st, Stevenson singled on the second pitch of his at-bat, jumping on Mud Hens’ starter Chase Anderson early. Stevenson stole second base just a few pitches later, and a wild throw down to second allowed the speedster to take third base as well. Luis Garcia joined Stevenson on-base and with one out, Joey Meneses singled to right field, scoring the speedster from third to give the Wings an early lead. With two outs, Nick Banks hit a single of his own, bringing home Garcia to expand the Rochester lead to two runs.
Leading off in the top of the 2nd, Tres Barrera looked to keep the Wings’ momentum going. The catcher did just that, hitting a moon-shot of a home run over the left-field fence and Rochester took a two-run lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Toledo fired back. John Valente reached on a throwing error to lead off the inning, and John Lester and Chris Rabago earned free passes at the plate, loading the bases for the Mud Hens. A deep sac fly to center field off of the bat of Zack Short scored one for Toledo, and every runner advanced, leaving two runners in scoring position with one out. Luis Reyes escaped trouble for the Wings, getting the next two batters out via strikeout and flyout, respectively.
Just one inning later, the Mud Hens got going again. Kody Clemens led off the bottom of the 3rd with a double, and Jacob Robson joined him on base soon after. Valente grounded out to third base, and a fielder’s choice allowed Robson to join Clemens in scoring position, putting Toledo in a prime position to strike. A single from Lester scored both runners, tying the game at three runs apiece. Braymer then came into the game for Luis Reyes and worked out of the jam for the Wings.
Reyes made his first start of the year on the bump for Rochester. The right-hander pitched 2.2 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits and four walks.
The Red Wings (3-1) and Mud Hens (1-3) face off again on Saturday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm.