Tyler Duffey Tosses Gem in 3-2 Rochester Red Wings Win
After dropping his first four starts since being moved to AAA-Rochester, right-hander Tyler Duffey responded with another outstanding outing, winning his second straight decision in the Rochester Red Wings 3-2 victory. The win moved the Twins AAA team two games ahead of the Pawtucket Red Sox in the North Division of the International League and four games behind first place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Through the first three innings of the game Duffey and Pawtucket starter Zeke Spruill were taking care of business. The Red Wings starter retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out two Red Sox hitters, and Spruill gave up just a lead-off single in the third inning through the first three frames.
In the fourth both pitchers saw their runs come to an end. Rochester scored in the top half of the inning when James Beresford and Eric Fryer led off with back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Danny Ortiz followed with a sacrifice fly to score Beresford and it was 1-0 Rochester Red Wings.
The Pawtucket Red Sox responded right away in the home half of the inning. Jackie Bradley drew a walk and moved to second two batters later on a throwing error by the Red Wings shortstop. Carlos Peguero then reached on a throwing error by the first baseman that allowed Bradley to score. Two batters later Garin Cecchini hit a bloop single into left field that was just out of the reach of Danny Santana to score Hanigan. That gave Pawtucket the lead.
Neither team scored in the fifth, but in the sixth the Red Wings tied the score. Edwin Escobar took over for Spruill and walked Fryer to begin the inning. Ortiz followed with a single that moved Fryer to third and a fielder’s choice by Oswaldo Arcia put Fryer at third and Arcia at first. Rodriguez then drilled a hard grounder to short that Deven Marrero made a nice play on, throwing to second for the out, but Rodriguez beat the throw to first. That allowed Fryer to score to tie the game.
In the seventh the Rochester Red Wings jumped back on top. Eric Farris led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Doug Bernier. Santana followed with a double down the right field line that easily scored Farris and it was 3-2 Rochester.
Farris had a big night for Rochester. He was 2-3 with a run scored and two doubles.
Since giving up the two unearned runs in the fourth, Duffey pitched brilliantly. He allowed just two hits over the next three innings. The right-hander began the eighth inning, getting Bradley out to start the frame, but gave up back-to-back singles to Quintin Berry and Humberto Quintero to put runners at the corners with just one out. That would be the last batter for right-hander.
Duffey (2-4) pitched 7.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, a walk and 2 runs; neither were earned. He struck out 6 in his 106 pitch performance.
Ryan O’Rourke relieved and struck out Carlos Peguero. Mark Hamburger was called upon to face Luke Montz, and he also recorded the strikeout to keep the runner at third. In the ninth the Red Wings turned to A.J. Achter to close it out. He retired all three batters he faced for his 11th save of the season, preserving the 3-2 win.
By Robert Pannier