Rochester goes long ball against the Columbus Clippers as Lehigh Valley loses in Norfolk.
COLUNBUS, OHIO — The Rochester Red Wings took a 1-game lead over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Tuesday night with a 6-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers.
Rochester is 70-52 while Lehigh Valley fell to 69-53 following a 2-0 loss to the Norfolk Tides in Virginia. Both teams have 20 games remaining. Lehigh Valley holds the tie-breaker, via a 13-9 series record, over the Red Wings should the teams finish the regular season with identical records.
The Wings belted 2 home runs as they never trailed against the Clippers. Matt Hague put Rochester up 1-0 with a run-scoring single in the first inning to drive in Daniel Palka who hit a single with two outs and advanced to second on a single by Kennys Vargas.
The Red Wings later added solo home runs by Niko Goodrum and Vargas.
Rochester left-hander Stephen Gonsalves (1-0) picked up a quality start and the win after allowing one run on four hits over six innings.
The Red Wings outhit the Clippers, 14-8, as Hague collected 3 hits. Mitch Garver, Palka, Vargas, and J.B. Shucxk added two hits apiece.
Rochester improved to 3-1 against Columbus this season.
*NOTES — Tonight’s victory was Rochester’s 70th win in 122 games, quicker than any Red Wings team since 1997 to reach that plateau. The ’97 squad won its 70th game in game 114 on Aug. 2. The 2006 team won its 70th game in game 125 on Aug. 15…Rochester relievers have pitched to a 2.31 ERA (86 ER, 335.1 IP) with 104 total runs allowed since May 1. The bullpen, however, has allowed one run in eight of its 13 games this month and three or more runs in three of the last seven games…Rochester has gone 21-28 (.428) against the other teams currently above .500 this season. Of the 20 games the Red Wings have remaining, 10 will come against teams presently over .500 (8 with Scranton/WB, 2 with Columbus).