Kennys Vargas drives in the winning run for Rochester as Lehigh Valley falls in 11 innings to Norfolk.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — The Rochester Red Wings extended their wild card lead to 2 games over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Wednesday night following a 4-3, 11-inning victory over the Columbus Clippers. Both teams have 19 games left to play.
Rochester (71-52), which took over the wild card spot on Tuesday, received help from Norfolk as the Tides scored twice in the bottom of the 11th inning to shut out the IronPigs (69-54), 2-0.
Kennys Vargas ripped a RBI single in the top of the 11th inning to plate Mitch Garver with the go-ahead run after he reached base with a double.
Rochester starter David Hurlbut struck out 4 while allowing 1 run and 7 hits over 6.1 innings. Alex Wimmers (5-3) got the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Niko Goodrum doubled and singled twice, scoring two runs for the Red Wings.
With the win, Rochester improved to 4-1 against Columbus this season.
*NOTES — In roster moves Wednesday, RHP Chris Heston returned from rehab assignment and was reinstated from disabled list; and RHP Michael Kohn was reinstated from disabled list and transferred to Single-A Ft. Myers…Niko Goodrum has hit in 7 straight games since Aug. 7, batting .310 (9-for-29) with a double, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, and 7 runs scored. Goodrum has homered in back-to-back games for the second time in his career, joining Aug. 16 and 18, 2015 with Double-A Chattanooga. Goodrum has a career-high 11 homers this season…Daniel Palka has hit in 10 straight games while batting .341 (15-for-44)
with 3 doubles, a homer, 6 RBI and 6 runs scored. Since returning from the disabled list on July 23, Palka has hit .305 and is tied for fourth in the league with 29 hits.