By CRAIG POTTER
Niko Goodrum’s 2-run homer pulls out a 5-4 win over Gwinnett for Rochester.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Niko Goodrum’s 2-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning propelled the Rochester Red Wings to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Gwinnett Braves on Tuesday night before 4,293 fans at Frontier Field.
“It’s always good to pick up a win,” Goodrum said.
The Braves starting pitcher, Sean Newcomb, kept the Wings in check on singles by Dan Palka and Ehire Adrianza through 5 innings. He walked 4 and struck out 6.
Wings starter Jose Berrios nearly was equally effective and he allowed 2 runs on 4 hits, including a solo homer by Rio Ruiz. A passed ball by catcher Mitch Garver account for the other run. Berrios fanned 10 hitters for the third time as a Rochester hurler. Nine of the 10 Ks were on off-speed stuff.
“They saw me last time when I pitched in Gwinnett so today I used all my pitch work,” said Berrios.
“Berrios threw well,” said Red Wings Manager Mike Quade. “We had so many days off and the weather, (Trevor) Hildenberger wasn’t as sharp. With 6, 7, 8 days rest, we need to get some people work. You try to get your bullpen setup. It’s a bullpen I’m going to like – as long as they’re here.”
Rochester (9-7) finally got on the scoreboard in the seventh. Tommy Field led off with a walk. Goodrum doubled to left, and when the ball was misplayed, Field scampered home with the first run. J.B. Shuck singled to put runners on the corners. Adrianza Laceda hit to tie the game. Leonardo Reginatto advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Matt Hague lofted a sacrifice fly to right to score the go-ahead run.
“Nice comeback – twice,” Quade said with a smile. “It was such a quiet night then all of a sudden it was back-and-forth for three innings. Fortunately it wound up forth for us.”
The Braves (11-6) regained the lead with a pair of runs off Wings reliever Hildenberger.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Field doubled down the right field line. Goodrum followed with a blast to left that hit the railing above the wall for the home run.
In the top of the ninth, Kyle Kubitza led off with a single against reliever T.J. Chargois. Blake Lalli lined a pitch that first baseman Hague made a diving snare, then easily doubled up Kubitza for an unassisted double play. A fly out to left field ended the game.
*NOTES – Former Red Wing outfielder Adam Brett Walker was re-assigned from Gwinnett to the Mississippi Braves in the Class AA Southern League on Saturday. He had 1 homer while with Gwinnett…The Braves and Red Wings play a 1:35 pm game on Wednesday and an 11:05 am game on Thursday to conclude the series…INF Ehire Adrianza went 2-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout, in the first game of his major league rehab assignment from the Twins…Former National League MVP and Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Ryan Howard went 1-for-4 with an RBI for the Braves, after recently signing a minor league deal with Atlanta. It is his first time playing in Triple A, other than a rehab stint in 2012…Red Wings roster moves: ADD: INF Ehire Adrianza, MLB rehab assignment transferred from Single-A Ft. Myers, ADD: LHP Buddy Boshers, optioned to Rochester (dated 4/24), REMOVE: RHP Nick Tepesch, contract purchased by Minnesota (dated 4/24).
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Jose Berrios interview – https://youtu.be/ZG3tlDId1Fw
Niko Goodrum interview – https://youtu.be/lWu-AaaLiM4
Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/KDpLBuGRJ9s