Wings top Hens in extras

Rochester led from the get-go as rehabbing Byron Buxton hit the first pitch of the game from Ruben Alaniz deep to left field for his sixth leadoff homer in just 50 games with the Wings since last season.

From that point on it was a battle of the pitching staffs. Toledo, hurt for starting pitchers, received strong work from relievers in a “bullpen game,” as Alaniz, Jairo Labourt, Logan Kensing and Joe Jimenez combined to allow three hits and five walks in the first eight innings.

Melville was even better. He did not allow a hit until two outs in the 5th and struck out multiple batters in five of his seven innings while fanning a career-high 11. Melville retired nine in a row at one point and did not allow an extra-base hit.

The Mud Hens finally broke through in the 7th as back-to-back one-out singles put men at the corners. Juan Perez lifted a sac fly to left to tie the game at 1-1.

Blaine Hardy (6-3) struck out the side in the 9th for Toledo. Mason Melotakis (2-0) worked a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom half to send the game to extras.

Buxton opened the 10th with an infield single to shortstop. A pair of strikeouts sandwiched a Matt Hauge infield single and two runners were on with two away. Park’s double gave Rochester a lead, Daniel Palka followed with an RBI triple and Tommy Field drove him in with a single to make it 5-1. Kyle Ryan was needed in relief to get a strikeout to end the inning.

D.J. Baxendale issued a two-out walk in the bottom half but tossed a scoreless game to close it out.

With the win, Rochester (61-44) moved within 2.5 games of Lehigh Valley (64-42) in the wildcard race. The IronPigs fell at Durham, 5-1.

Next Home Game: The Red Wings open a crucial three-game with Lehigh Valley (Phillies) on Tuesday, August 1 at 7:05 p.m. at Frontier Field.