BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings entered the bottom of the seventh inning on Wednesday with a narrow 3-2 lead over the Syracuse Mets. Three outs later, that was no longer the case, as the Wings scored six runs to put the game away for what was ultimately an 11-2 win.
The Red Wings (24-17 in the second half, 62-52 overall, 3.5 games out of first in the International League for the half) batted around coming out of the stretch with the five-hit inning, but all of the team’s runs actually came with two outs, as the Wings followed a Dylan Crews fielder’s choice with three straight hits, including a two-run double from third baseman Brady House that extended the lead to 5-2 and then a 376-foot two-run home run to right center by a rehabbing Joey Gallo– a man who, House admitted post-game, he’d often use in video game home run derbies.
That wasn’t the end of Rochester scoring that inning against Syracuse (18-22 in the second half, 64-50 overall, nine games back), as shortstop Jackson Cluff later brought in two more runs with a double to right to make it 9-2.
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“Our offense came alive (in the seventh),” said Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy. “They put the game kind of out of reach there, did some really good things.”
The explosive seventh was a long way from the start of the game, where Syracuse initially took the lead in a long, strange top of the first against the Red Wings’ starter, Thaddeus Ward.
The inning started innocently enough, with Ward walking the leadoff man before getting Luisangel Acuna to ground into a double play. Ward then walked the next batter and another reached on an error, before a sweeper got away from Ward and hit Syracuse’s Drew Gilbert in the groin area to load the bases. The outfield prospect, considered one of the best in the New York Mets system, was on the ground for several minutes before heading to the clubhouse, replaced by a pinch-runner.
Jackie Bradley Jr. followed and hit a ground ball towards second. Second baseman Trey Lipscomb fielded it and ran to second to try and get the force-out to finish the inning, but pinch-runner Carlos Cortes beat him there, leaving Lipscomb without any time to throw to first, bringing a run in to score and make it 1-0 for Syracuse.
Ward got the next man to ground out, and was excellent afterwards, ultimately going five innings while striking out three while allowing five hits and the first inning’s unearned run.
“I was kind of a little on the edge of my seat during the first, we had to get a guy up,” said LeCroy. “But he made some nice adjustments, ended with four more scoreless. I’m happy, he’s continued to improve. He’s throwing more strikes, more quality strikes in the zone.”
At the plate, the Red Wings faced Syracuse starter Brandon Sproat, the top Mets prospect according to MLB.com and the 40th best prospect in baseball overall. After struggling in the first two innings, the Wings struck in the bottom of the third. Cluff led off with a single and then stole second, then later came around on a single to left by Darren Baker. The throw from left fielder Yolmer Sanchez came in quickly, and it appeared that Cluff may have been tagged out, but he was called safe on the close and controversial play at home, tying the game at 1-1 much to the anger of the Syracuse coaching staff.
Sproat was ejected after the inning, presumably over the call at home. Syracuse pitching coach Grayson Crawford stormed out of the dugout and soon joined his starter in getting sent to the clubhouse.
The game stayed tied until the sixth, although only because of the arm of Darren Baker, who LeCroy called the team’s “most improved defensive player by far.” With a man on second and two outs in the fifth, Syracuse’s Cortes singled to left, and Mets’ third baseman Luke Ritter got the go-ahead to round third. Baker got to the ball quickly, though, and unleashed a good throw from left, gunning Ritter down at home for the third and final out to keep the game tied.
Baker, long an infielder, has played an increasing amount of outfield the last two seasons as more and more prospects make their way to Rochester. That increased playing time has been key to his improvement, he said.
“I think I’ve taken some steps forward,” said Baker. “I just need some more reps, since you can’t simulate the game.”
Rochester took the lead for good the next inning, as Baker walked before House had the first of his two doubles. Gallo then singled home Baker to make it 2-1 and then a wild pitch by Shintaro Fujinami brought home house to extend Rochester’s lead to 3-1.
The Red Wings then put the game out of reach in the seventh and added two more insurance runs in the eighth for the final 11-2 score.
Baker finished the day going 2-for-4 with an RBI, a walk, and three runs, while Gallo went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, and three RBI. Brady House went 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI. It was the latest good game for House, who has hit .274 with a .725 OPS since joining the Red Wings.
It’s something that is providing a jolt to the 21-year-old House, who was recently named the 69th best prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com. So to is the Red Wings’ winning.
“I’m enjoying every bit of it, and we’re all coming together and getting the jobs done,” said House. “Pitchers, hitting, and on defense. It’s just a good time.”
The Wings and Mets continue their series on Thursday at 6:45 P.M. Rochester sends right-hander Spenser Watkins (7-5, 4.85) against a pitcher to be named.
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