BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y.– Sterling Sharp struck out a career-high nine batters over five and two-thirds innings of work, and the Rochester Red Wings defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers 4-1, Thursday evening.
“He kept us in the ballgame that allowed our offense to have a chance to take a lead,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy stated about Sharp’s performance. “Really proud of the effort.”
The right-hander gave up one run in 5.2 innings of work. After issuing a lead-off walk in the first inning, Sharp set down the next six Omaha batters before giving up his only earned run in the third inning. He proceeded to hold the Storm Chasers to only three hits between the fourth and sixth inning. Sharp reached his new career-high of nine strikeouts in the top of the sixth inning to record the second out of the inning.
After Sharp was taken out of the game, the Rochester bullpen hurled three and a third hitless innings. Alberto Baldonado got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning to preserve the lead. Victor Arano, Matt Cronin, and Patrick Murphy all recorded one, two, three innings to close out the remainder of the game.
“He [Baldonado] did a nice job of getting the righty out in a big spot in the game,” LeCroy said. “Arano was on a major league rehab. He had all his secondary stuff working for relief, easy work, and I thought Cronin, he threw the ball over and they hit a couple of balls to center, but no damage done. then Murphy, really special. Chavez [RafaelChavez], our pitching coach has done a really nice job with him. Get him in a better direction, smoother delivery.”
Murphy recorded his first career Triple-A save and first overall since 2016.
“It’s cool,” Murphy stated about his first career Triple-A save. I just switched to being a reliever last season, so kind of new to me, and then this year just been trying to do whatever they ask.”
The offense for both teams came in just one inning in Thursday’s contest.
Omaha opened up the scoring in the third inning on a forceout RBI from Dairon Blanco who scored William Hancock. Hancock opened up the inning with a base hit to get aboard.
Rochester answered in the fifth inning with an offensive explosion. Rochester recorded three hits in the innings scoring four runs. Andrew Stevenson tied the game by scoring Jake Alu on an RBI groundout. Ildemaro Vargas followed with an RBI single to take the lead. Finally, Joey Meneses put the icing on the cake with a two-run home run to put the Red Wings up 4-1. The big inning would seal the victory for them.
Rochester sits one game back of the Durham Bulls for first place in the IL East Division.
Rochester will look to capitalize and make it two in a row as they continue its series against Omaha on Friday at 7:05.
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