Six-Run Fourth Sends Rochester Red Wings Soaring in 7-1 Victory
The Rochester Red Wings rebounded from a tough loss to division rival Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday night to take the final game of their series, 7-1. The Red Wings have been 3-7 over their last 10 games, the exact inverse record of the RailRiders, which has given SWB the North Division lead in the International League over Rochester. A win Wednesday night was crucial, and the club’s six-run fourth inning propelled them to that victory.
Through the first three innings both starting pitchers were pitching quite well. The Rochester Red Wings sent Tyler Duffey to the hill looking for his first win of the season, while SWB countered with Kyle Davies. Duffey gave up singles to two of the first three hitters he faced in the first inning, then retired the next 11 batters he faced.
His run came to an end when the right-hander allowed back-to-back singles to lead off the fifth inning. Duffey remained poised, however, retiring the next three batters in order, including striking out Ben Gamel to end the inning.
Starting with the final three outs of the fifth, Duffey (1-4) retired 12 of the final 14 hitters he faced, only allowing a seventh inning walk and an eighth inning double. For the game he allowed 6 hits and a walk in 8 innings of work. Most impressive was his 9 strikeouts and the fact that he threw 106 pitches, 71 for strikes, in earning his first win for the Rochester Red Wings.
While Duffey was handling the pitching duties, his hitters staked him to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Danny Ortiz began the frame with a single and scored when Oswaldo Arcia lined a double to center field. Davies retired the next two batters, but then the flood gates opened. Argenis Diaz singled to send Arcia home. Diaz stole second and scored on a base hit by Jose Martinez. Danny Santana beat out an infield single to keep the inning alive and James Beresford followed with a single that scored Martinez. Eric Fryers’ single scored both runners to make it 6-0. The Red Wings sent 10 men to the plate in the inning, and scored six runs off of seven hits.
In the sixth Rochester added an insurance run. With two outs Santana doubled, and Beresford followed with his first triple of the season, scoring Santana to increase the lead to seven.
The RailRiders finally got on the board in the top of the ninth, after Duffey’s day was over. Caleb Theilbar took over in relief and allowed three straight hits to bring home a run for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Ramon Flores scored the run and Cole Figueroa had the RBI.
Beresford had three hits in the game and drove home two runs. Santana and Arcia added two hits apiece.
The Rochester Red Wings continue their series with the Scranton/Wilke-Barre RailRiders tomorrow. Esmil Rogers will be making his first start for the RailRiders. The Red Wings send Jason Wheeler (1-5, 6.00) to the hill. Game time is 7:05 ET.
By Robert Pannier
