Courtesy of RedWingsBaseball.com
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders swept the Red Wings in a Friday night doubleheader at Frontier Field, winning 6-4 and 10-2.
The first inning of Friday’s first game featured great defense behind both starting pitchers. Red Wings starter Pat Dean got help from third baseman Stephen Wickens, who made a backhand snare of a would-be extra base hit by Aaron Judge; Slade Heathcott followed with a sinking line drive to left, and Darin Mastroianni ran in and made a diving catch to take away another hit.
RailRiders starter Kyle Haynes got an even bigger assist in the Wings’ half of the first inning. Byron Buxton launched a high drive to left, and Riders left fielder Cesar Puello leaped above the wall to rob Buxton of a home run.
The Red Wings were the first to make a move in the bottom of the fourth. James Beresford walked with one out to put a runner on-base. Kennys Vargas took advantage of the situation, and hit his first homer of the season to propel Rochester to a 2-0 lead over the RailRiders going into the fifth inning.
After a solid performance through four innings, Dean struggled in the fifth. With one out, Cesar Puello hit a liner at Dean, forcing him to bobble the ball and enabling Puello to secure the single. He walked the next batter, giving Scranton a two-on, one out opportunity. Jonathan Diaz capitalized on the situation and with an RBI single. Dean settled down and struck out the next batter; however, with two outs and runners on first and second he gave up a double that allowed the RailRiders to tie the game. To wrap up the inning, Mastroianni made a crucial catch in left field foul-ball territory, leaving the game tied at 2 entering the second half of the inning.
Dean exited the game after the fifth inning with five hits, two runs, two walks and five strikeouts throwing 102 pitches, 60 for strikes.
In the bottom of the fifth the Red Wings answered by taking control during key opportunities. Juan Centeno walked to put a runner on base for Rochester. Mastroianni hit a grounder towards third but an error by third baseman Donovan Solano allowed Mastroianni to make it to first safely and Centeno advanced to third. During Stephen Wickens’ at-bat Centeno was able to add another tally to the scoreboard for Rochester due to a pick-off error by first baseman Nick Swisher. Wickens walked giving Rochester runners on first and second with no outs. Buxton struck out, however during his at-bat the Red Wings were able to notch a double steal. Wilfredo Tovar hit a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Mastroianni to score the go-ahead run. Left-handed pitcher Tyler Olson took over the mound for Haynes after Tovar’s at-bat. Despite walking Beresford, Olson struck out Vargas to end the fifth with the Red Wings leading 4-2.
Haynes finished out the game with one hit, four runs, two earned runs, five walks and three strikeouts throwing 91 pitches, 49 for strikes.
In the top of the sixth, Marcus Walden took to the mound for Rochester. Walden put away the first two batters efficiently; however, during the third at-bat he allowed a single which was followed by a fielding error from Wickens. With runners on first and third Pete Kozma hit an RBI single to secure another run for the RailRiders. Walden got himself out of the jam by assisting with an easy out at first base.
Max Kepler attempted to get something going for Rochester with a double in the sixth; however, the next three batters grounded out, stranding Kepler on second.
The Red Wings brought in closer J.R. Graham at the top of the seventh. The first two batters that he faced singled and ultimately advanced as the result of a wild pitch, giving the RailRiders runners at second and third with no outs. Slade Heathcott tripled for Scranton giving them a 5-4 advantage over Rochester. Gary Sanchez doubled during the next at-at allowing Heathcott to cross home plate, giving them a two-run lead. Graham secured the next three outs in order to move forward into one final scoring opportunity for Rochester.
Conor Mullee entered the game in the bottom of the seventh for the RailRiders, and he put the Red Wings away in a one, two, three inning to end the game with a final score of 6-4.
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