By MIKE ROSE
ROCHESTER, N.Y.– After dropping two straight to the Worcester Red Sox, the Rochester Red Wings used the long ball to pick up a series-tying victory Friday night 6-5. Brady Lindsly hit his first career Triple-A home run while veteran slugger Matt Adams hit his 99th career home run in the minors and his 217th overall of his professional career.
“The guys did a good job battling especially against a tough lefty,” said acting Red Wings manager Billy McMillon. “Lindsly got a late start and put a good swing on that home run and Adams came up big when we needed him late.”
Despite surrendering the first run of the game for the ninth time in their last 10 games the Red Wings responded in a hurry. Lindsly provided the early answer connecting on a 413 ft home run in his first at-bat of the day to put Rochester in front 2-1 in the second.
“I don’t hit those a lot so it feels good anytime,” Lindsly said. “Definitely getting the first one out of the way in Triple-A is a great feeling.”
Lindsly was a late start in the contest entering the lineup just about 40 minutes before the first pitch after Drew Millas reportedly got the call to join the Washington Nationals in Miami. He recorded his first hit Triple-A hit in the loss Thursday afternoon to Worcester. Adams had high praise for the young backstop.
“I think it shows what type of player he is. The kid is always locked in and ready to go. Even when he’s not playing he’s thinking along with the game in the dugout watching the pitcher sand trying to come up with a game plan. He’s just always prepared. He’s way above his years when it comes to preparation and it showed in a big way tonight.”
Worcester responded to tie it in the third before Rochester pulled in front for good in the fourth. Cody Wilson and Jacob Young recorded back-to-back one-out singles to begin the inning before Darren Baker tried to bunt for a hit. Baker’s bunt was placed perfectly and forced a rushed flip to first base from Red Sox pitcher Shane Drohan which went sailing over the head of first basemen Niko Kavadas, allowing Wilson to score the go-ahead run. Adams would come to the plate with two outs and delivered his first home run since August 4 against Scranton/Wilkes Barre to put the Red Wings ahead 6-2. Adams had gone 5-for-45 (.111) since his last home run and was happy to see some positive results.
“I feel like my at-bats the last couple of weeks have been pretty solid and I’ve been seeing the ball a lot better than what I have been. In the series in Buffalo I think I had four or five balls hit at over 100 mph but just right at people so seeing it go away from the fielders today and go over the wall and knowing I put the barrel on a fastball that was down and in definitely gave me some confidence. It’s been a grind but I’ve been showing up and putting my work in and it paid off in a big way tonight.”
Ronaldo Hernandez cut the deficit in half with a two-run home run for Worcester in the sixth before the Red Sox made one last push in the ninth. After two quick outs from Red Wings closer Gerson Moreno David Hamilton, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Enmanuel Valdez hit three straight singles to make it a 6-5 game. Ultimately Moreno earned his ninth save of the season retired Bobby Dalbec to secure the victory.
Cory Abbott made his return to the Red Wings, making his first start since June 1 after making relief appearances for the Nationals. He only managed to produce 2.2 innings on the night allowing two runs on three hits with three walks. He gave way to Tommy Romero he allowed two runs over 3.1 innings of relief, ultimately earning the victory. Luis Reyes and Hobie Harris combined for two scoreless innings with five strikeouts before Moreno finished it off.
Rochester (22-26, 56-65) moves back to seven games back of first place in the International League with the victory. Despite a 7-15 record in August Adams hopes his team can try to get rolling heading into the weekend against Worcester (29-19, 68-55).
“You’re going to hit those stretches in baseball so the more you can limit those stretches being big and getting back to playing the baseball we know how to play, which we did tonight, is huge,” Adams said. “I think that momentum is going to carry into the weekend and we’ll see where we get to tomorrow.”
Rochester is expected to send Jackson Rutledge (2-2, 4.85) to the mound while Grant Gambrell will make his Triple-A debut for Worcester. First pitch at Innovative Field is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
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