ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings won their fourth straight over the thruway rival Buffalo Bisons on Saturday, 7-6, again coming from behind while being paced by their leadoff hitter, second baseman Darren Baker.
The four wins come after the Red Wings began the season with a 1-8 record. The Red Wings have had 10 or more hits in the last four games after having only two double-digit hit games in the first nine.
“I’m really proud of the group,” said Rochester manager Matt LeCroy. “They picked each other up (after the early deficit).”
Like the previous games in the series, the Bisons scored first. With two outs in the opening inning, Bisons’ shortstop Addison Barger doubled off Rochester starter Wily Peralta, and then was knocked home on a double by first baseman Spencer Horwitz to make the score 1-0.
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The Red Wings struck back in the bottom of the first as Baker continued his hot hitting at the plate with a leadoff single to left. Moved to second by a hit-by-pitch of Richie Martin, Baker scored the tying run later in the inning on an RBI single by right fielder Nomar Mazara. An out later, deep single into right field by designated hitter Wilson Garcia would give the Red Wings the lead, 3-1.
Buffalo tied it up in the top of the second, 3-3, plating two on a two-out Nathan Lukes single. The Red Wings took the lead right back, 4-3, scoring a run in the bottom half on a ground out by Martin.
The Bisons responded by scoring two in the top of the third and one in the top of the fifth and led 6-4 as Rochester came to bat in what became a big bottom of the fifth. With one out, Garcia singled to right, then moved up to second on a wild pitch by Junior Fernandez. Left fielder Jack Dunn then singled on a grounder fielded by Barger, who threw the ball past the first baseman to add an error that allowed Garcia to score and Dunn to move to second. The 6-5 deficit wouldn’t last long, as center fielder Cody Wilson singled with two outs, scoring Dunn for the tying run. Wilson moved to third when the Bisons’ left fielder, Cam Eden, had a throwing error on the play. Finally, Bakers singled to left, scoring Wilson and giving the Wings a 7-6 lead.
Baker’s game-winning RBI continues his hot streak. The 24-year-old has been clicking at the plate during the win streak, going 11-20 (.555) in his last four games and 10-15 (.666) in his previous three games, including 3-5 on Saturday. His overall batting average for the young season has increased from .208 to .375 this week.
“The offense did a good job of putting together some really good at-bats to take the lead in the fifth,” said LeCroy. “I’m loving where our offense is heading.”
The Bisons continued to threaten, with perhaps no bigger opportunity for the visitors than in the top of the eighth inning. With one out and pinch-runner Otto Lopez on second after a leadoff double, Lukes sent the ball deep to right with the runner going. Mazara ran down the ball and threw it to Baker, who threw to Martin at short for the 9-4-6 double play to end the inning and the threat.
The double play was an exclamation point for a good day in the field for the Red Wings. The Wings committed no errors on the day to the Bisons’ three.
Jordan Weems came in for the ninth and set the Bisons down in order to secure the win.
The Red Wings complete their home series against Buffalo tomorrow at 1:05 P.M. Rochester is scheduled to start Cory Abbott on the mound against Buffalo’s Drew Hutchison. The Red Wings will then travel to Norfolk for a series against the Tides.
Best way to try and fix a 1-8 start is by starting a winning streak. And the Wings have now won 4 straight and the best part of that is the bats are coming alive after being totally non-existent for the first 9 games.
It has been fun watching them spar with Buffalo and come out on top when it counts.
Lets try and put them away Sunday and work on getting back to .500 on the next series.