BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Stone Garrett completed a late inning comeback with a walk-off base hit the 10th inning to lift the Rochester Red Wings to a 2-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs Friday evening.
”We used everybody,” Red Wings manager Matthew LeCroy said. “It was a good team effort. It’s one that hopefully we can carry into tomorrow and Sunday to end the season on a really good note.”
Garrett struggled all night at the plate as he had struck out three times before he delivered when it mattered the most.
”I kind of expanded the zone and swung at two bad pitches,” Garrett said. “I mentally rested and was still trying to get him over. I got a pitch up in the zone and at first I thought the shortstop was going to get it and I did my job, but it got through and it was the game winner so that was awesome.”
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Rochester’s offense struggled for most of the contest on Friday. Rochester’s offense through the first seven innings of the ballgame could not get anyone to second base. They stranded four base runners at first base and didn’t look like they were going to produce a run after falling behind 1-0 in the third inning.
”You have to tip your cap sometimes,” LeCroy said. “Their guys pitched one heck of a game against us and we had a hard time getting it on the barrel.”
The tide for Rochester’s offense started to turn in the eighth inning when the Red Wings were threatening with runners at the corners with one out. Andrew Pinckney led off the inning with a base hit and then stole second. Brady Lindsly moved Pinckney over to third with base hit before being replaced by Erick Mejia. Rochester did not score in the inning but the signs of a rally had formed.
In the ninth, Rochester tied the ballgame after being held scoreless through the first eight innings. Riley Adams started the rally with a one out ground rule double that went into the berm in right field. Joey Meneses moved Adams over to third with a base hit. Robert Hassell III tied the game after out beating a potential game ending double play at first base.
”We continued to fight and found a way at the end to get back in it and tied it and then win it in extras,” LeCory said.
After a 1,2,3 top of the 10th, Garrett sent the fourth pitch he saw right up the middle to score Pinckney who was the ghost runner on second to send the 7,831 fans in attendance home happy.
”He’s kind of struggled at times this year, but I’m proud of him,” LeCroy said. “He stayed with us. He keeps working. Tonight was one of those nights where he struggled, struck out a few times early and then had two strikes on him and put the ball in play.”
Hassell III and Pinckney were some major driving forces behind the late inning rally. Pinckney had two hits and was the winning run in the ballgame while Hassell III tied the game after hustling down the first to beat a double play. Games like this will help towards their development going into next year.
”It’s fun to see them get here and then adjust ti how pitchers pitch in this league at this level,” Garrett said. “It’s fun and refreshing.”
The Red Wings’ pitching was solid from start to finish on Friday. Starter Brad Lord threw six innings of one run baseball where he struck out seven. Lord gave up the lone run on six hits and two walks, but gave Rochester length they needed to not overuse their bullpen.
”He had a little setback when he got hit in the hand,” LeCroy said. “He had to take a little break and we had to build him back up. Today, we wanted to make sure he could get to the sixth inning, which he did. He got through it and gave us a chance to win.”
Rochester’s bullpen blanked the Iowa offense as they gave up one hit and two walks. The bullpen tallied six strikeouts with half of them coming from Amos Willingham who struck out three in two innings of work. Rico Garcia locked down the Iowa offense in the 10th to set up the walk-off in the bottom half of the inning.
”We had a pretty fresh pen,” LeCroy said. “I thought [Amos] Willingham was awesome to give us two innings and then [Rico] Garcia who has been solid all year long. I want these guys to continue to grind and give the fans something fun to watch.”
Through all the ups and downs of the season for the Red Wings, they have always continued to fight through the adversity no matter who was in the lineup all season.
”I’m so proud of the guys,” LeCory said. “We lost a lot of guys to the big leagues. Guys are getting opportunities and guys are continuing to fight. This clubhouse has never lost fight. It’s a fun to see a group of guys that are out of a playoff race continue to fight. A lot of people would’ve just thrown in the towel and just get through these next couple of games, but they haven’t.”
The Rochester Red Wings (39-34, 77-69) and Iowa Cubs (33-40, 66-82) will continue their series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. as Rochester will send right-hander Jackson Rutledge (4-9, 6.73) while Iowa will send righty Brandon Birdsell (3-5, 4.80) to toe the slab.
Wings win their 3rd straight one run game with a late rally. Two games left. At least the kids have given the fans a little to feel happy about these last 3 days. Nicely done.