BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – On paper, Friday seemed a somewhat unexpected pitcher’s duel, with Rochester Red Wings’ lefty Andrew Alvarez entering the game with a 4.89 ERA and his opponent, the Syracuse Mets right-hander Blade Tidwell, beginning the game with a 5.87 ERA.
And yet, a duel occurred, with each pitcher allowing just one earned run through the first six innings. It wasn’t until the bottom of the seventh that the Red Wings (26-17 in the second half, 64-52 overall, two games back for second half title) broke through against Tidwell and took the lead for good, with Jack Dunn singling in Trey Lipscomb with one out to make it 2-1. The Rochester offense jumped on the relievers who came in for Tidwell, racking up seven runs on the Mets bullpen for the 9-2 win- the team’s fifth straight victory. Their win Friday also earned the team the Thruway Cup against Syracuse (18-24 in second half, 64-52 overall, 9.5 games back) and the Buffalo Bisons for the season.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO.
“[Alvarez] kept us in it, [Tidwell] kept them in it, and we were able to push it across,” said Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy. “That was fun. Everyone wants offense, but sometimes it’s good to have a nice pitching duel, and we came out on the better end of it.”
Alvarez, the Red Wings starter (3-3, 4.34 ERA), went seven full innings- his longest outing ever in AAA- allowing four hits and an earned run and striking out five without walking anyone. In fact, none of the Red Wings walked a batter on the game. The lone run against Alvarez came on a sixth inning sacrifice fly by rehabbing Mets outfielder Starling Marte, tying the game at one.
“He had a really good mix against a pretty good lineup,” said LeCroy.
“At the end of the day, I’m just trying to get ahead and throw up zeroes,” said Alvarez, who has pitched well in August to a tune of a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings pitched. Entering the month, the lefty had a 6.18 ERA since arriving in AAA in June.
It’s an improvement that Alvarez attributes to work with coaches and teammates.
“We’re working day in, day out, working with Chavy (pitching coach Rafael Chaves), and the catchers, and my other teammates. We’re kind of getting my old slider back to a little bit better of a break.”
Offensively, the go-ahead run in the seventh came thanks to some old-style base-to-base movement. Second baseman Trey Lipscomb led off with a single to center, and then stole second. Then came right fielder Stone Garrett, who jumped on a inside sinker and grounded out to the third baseman- rendering himself out but moving Lipscomb to third. It was something that stuck in the mind of LeCroy.
“Stone Garrett, to me, had the best at-bats of the night, moving (Lipscomb) over for us to have a chance to score,” he said. “He hadn’t been playing consistently this year, and to see him give up that at-bat like that for his team says a lot about how he is. I know the guys were very excited when that happened.”
The job then fell to shortstop Jack Dunn to bring Lipscomb home for good. Against Tidwell, the Northwestern alum worked a seven-pitch at-bat before grabbing hold of a sweeper on the edge of the strike zone, sending it to center for a safe single to bring in Lipscomb and make it 2-1.
“It was just a case of trying to get the ball in the outfield, and getting the runner in,” said Dunn. “With our pitching staff, we just need a one-run lead to win- and that was in my mind.”
Tidwell was soon removed after 6.1 innings pitched, having allowed four hits, three walks and two earned runs while striking out five.
The Red Wings would get more than enough insurance the following inning, as seven Wings straight reached base with two outs, bringing home seven runs and making it 9-1. Although Syracuse third baseman Brett Baty cut into the lead in the ninth with a towering 397-foot shot to lead off, it was far too little and too late for Syracuse.
Offensively, Garrett led the way with two hits and two RBI, both on an eighth-inning double. Darren Baker had two hits including a double, drove in a run, and scored twice- including a fourth-inning score on a Drew Millas groundout that gave the Wings an initial 1-0 lead. Dunn ended the day 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a stolen base.
The Red Wings and Mets continue their series on Saturday at 6:45 P.M. Rochester sends out right-hander Brad Lord (2-2, 3.27) against Syracuse righty Mike Vasill (6-7, 5.31).
OK–this week the Red Wings really look like a team to be reckoned with. They are playing with a confidence that exudes victories. Last night in the 8th inning everything they hit found grass after two outs no less. Maybe though the key play was the infield nubber that was fielded quickly and then the throw to first was airmailed all the way to Buffalo. That opened the floodgates and the rest of the game was a real hoot. We had a very close friend from Paris attending his 1st baseball game and he said, it was pretty boring until the last 3 innings.
So Team Tease is really doing a number on us now. Only 2 games out of 1st this late in the season is nothing short of a baseball miracle. Are we back to believing again? Gee, would be nice. A 5 game win streak is a lot of fun. Can we sweep the Mets? Love to see it.
Only player who was unimpressive last night was the K-King. Why is he still here? If by Sept 1, the Gnats are hopelessly out of it…which is probably 99% going to happen, wouldn’t it be nice if they tried to at least give their organization something to be proud of by making sure they don’t frivolously raid the Wings. Get Blankenhorn back here for sure. (Yes, I’m sure he loves earning the MLB paycheck…I get it) But he could really help the Wings do something they haven’t done in decades.
Crowd was a tad less than expected. I was figuring 10K minimally, so 8,800 was just a wee bit disappointing. But the rain throughout the evening was also very unexpected too.
Anyway, keep it going Wings. This is great fun. Winning always is. No more tease. Go for it.