Five-Run Seventh Lifts Rochester Red Wings to 7-3 Victory
The Rochester Red Wings trailed twice in their contest against the Louisville Bats, but used big innings to take the lead, including a five-run seventh to win 7-3. The Red Wings got huge days from James Beresford and Danny Santana, who rapped out six of the club’s nine-hits.
Keyvius Sampson started for the Bats and for four innings he kept Rochester’s bats from causing any damage. Rogers kept Louisville scoreless through the first two innings, but in the third they plated a run against the lefty. Irving Falu walked with one out and moved to second on a base hit by Steve Selesky. With Josh Satin at the plate, catcher Eric Fryer threw wildly in a pickoff attempt, sending Falu home and moving Selesky to third. Taylor walked Satin to put runners at the corners with one out, but then got Ramon Cabrera to hit into a double-play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Rochester Red Wings plated two runs to take the lead. Doug Bernier began the inning by drawing a walk and moved to third when Santana singled and a throwing error by the center fielder allowed him to take an extra base. Santana moved to second on the error. Beresford following with a single, scoring both runners and putting Rochester on top 2-1.
In the top of the seventh the Louisville Bats retook the lead. Jermaine Curtis led off with a single against Rogers and moved to second when Ryan LaMarre grounded a ball up the middle for a base hit. Jason Bourgeois laid down a perfect bunt to move both runners into scoring position.
Logan Darnell relieved Rogers and gave up a line drive single to Falu that scored Curtis and moved LaMarre to third. That brought Josceil Veras to the plate and he found a hole, singling into right field to bring home Curtis and give Louisville back the lead.
The one-run lead did not last long, however. Three straight hits by the Rochester Red Wings to start the bottom of the seventh tied the score. Bernier began the inning with a single, moved to third on a single by Santana and scored on a base hit by Beresford. Fryer walked to load the bases, and Danny Ortiz cleared the bases with a triple to the wall in right field.
That made it 6-3, and would end the night for reliever Sam LeClure. Two batters later Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to score Ortiz and it was 7-3 Rochester, which would be the final.
Mark Hamburger (2-1) earned the win for the Rochester Red Wings. He pitched 1.2 innings of perfect baseball. LeClure (2-4) took the loss after allowing 4 hits and 5 runs in one-plus inning of work.
Santana finished 3-4 with two runs scored and a double. Beresford was 3-5 with a run and 3 RBI. Ortiz also drove in three, and Bernier had a perfect night, going 1-1 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored.
These two clubs will go at it again tomorrow. The Rochester Red Wings have not named their starter yet.
By Robert Pannier