The Rochester first baseman whallops a grand slam to beat Columbus, 4-1.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings continue to get excellent pitching, and Kennys Vargas smacked a grand slam, to lead the team to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Wednesday night before 5,217 fans at Frontier Field.
“It was a good cut,” Vargas said with a smile of that swing. “I am sick today and I play this way a lot with the bat. I’m sick (cold) and I don’t try to do too much.”
John Ryan Murphy started the bottom of the third with a walk. Singles by Danny Santana and James Beresford loaded the bases. With one out, Vargas blasted a pitch 432 feet over the right field fence as the ball left his bat at 114 mph.
Vargas said he hit a ball farther, 459 feet in 2014.
Vargas finished the game 3-for-4, including a double in the 7th. He tried to score on Eddie Rosario’s single, but was thrown out at the plate on a slide similar to Rosario’s on Tuesday night for the game-winning run in the 1-0 triumph over the Clippers.
“I asked him if he watched Rosario last night,” Rochester manager Mike Quade said with a smile of Vargas’ slide. “He had 4 good at bats tonight. Obviously the grand slam stands out. That’s what more of what we need to see from him.”
Rochester starter Andrew Albers hurled 5.1 innings, scattering 8 hits and yielding just 1 run. He also struck out 4. The Clippers scored their one run in the fifth frame with a 2-out single.
“Andrew has been a great acquisition,” Quade said. “He keeps us in every game he’s been in.
Sean Burnett came on in relief in the sixth with one out and the bases loaded. He got a strike out and a fly out to center to end the threat.
“Burnett has been great, another good acquisition,” said Quade. However, Wednesday was the day Burnett needed to make a choice if he were going to opt out of his contract.
When asked if Burnett is staying, Quade said, “As far as I know.” Quade was unaware of the contract option. “I didn’t know (of the contraction option). I hope (he’s staying), unless he goes to the big league. He’s been really good. He’s a professional. You can count on him.”
Alex Wimmers pitched the final two innings, retiring all 6 batters he faced.
“Wimmers is getting better and better,” Quade said. “His fastball, change-up mix is really good…He’s been very reliable as well.”
The win keeps Rochester (39-27) in first place in the International League North Division, a half game ahead of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (39-28). The Red Wings also are 12 games over .500 for the first time since late July, 2013.
*NOTES – Coming into Wednesday night’s game, Red Wings players among the league leaders included Logan Darnell (T-1st wins, T-1st complete games, 1st-shutouts), Jason Wheeler (T-5th ERA), James Beresford (2nd-runs scored), Adam Brett Walker (T-1st homers), and Kennys Vargas (1st-walks).
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Kennys Vargas interview – https://youtu.be/W4ujldLbIV0
Manager Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/G2Io1WE2_yY