Baker drives in five as Red Wings get back in win column, 9-1

BY DAN GLICKMAN

Second baseman Darren Baker went 4-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI on Saturday as the Red Wings beat the Syracuse Mets, 9-1.

The speedy left-handed hitter singled in a run in the second to give the Red Wings (37-35) a 3-0 lead, doubled in two runs in the fifth to up the Wings lead to 6-1, singled to lead off the eighth, and doubled in the ninth to give the Red Wings their ninth and final run. The night was all the more impressive because Baker was hitting out of the ninth spot.

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Rochester had lost every previous game in the series, but never trailed in Saturday’s game, grabbing the lead with an RBI single from Stone Garrett in the third inning. Although Syracuse (46-27) put up a run in the fourth to make it 3-1, the Red Wings immediately grabbed the lead back when left fielder James Wood got hold of a Joey Lucchesi sinker and launched it 377 feet to left-center for a solo home run to lead off the fifth and make it 4-1.

Wood, who recently returned from the injured list, ultimately went 2-for-5 on the night with two RBI before being pinch-run for late. First baseman Juan Yepez also hit safely twice.

On the mound, right-hander Jackson Rutledge went six innings, allowing six hits and an earned run while striking out eight. Lefty Joe La Sorsa struck out two in a scoreless seventh before Adonis Medina and Tim Cate threw a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.

The win ends a four-game skid for the Wings and ensures that the Red Wings will end the first half of the season with a record above .500.

The Red Wings complete their series with the Mets on Sunday, with the AAA debut of right-hander Brad Lord (8-1, 1.40 in AA Harrisburg). Syracuse will send out righty Blade Tidewell (0-1, 5.14). First pitch is 1:05 P.M.