BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. —The Rochester Red Wings (19-33) clinched their fourth straight victory with an extra innings walk of victory 8-7 Thursday night over the Columbus Clippers (22-29)
”I’m proud of how we finished and found a way to win a game that I thought we should have won anyway,” Red ZWings manager Matt LeCroy said. “A well fought game all around.”
Brady House played hero as he worked a bases loaded walk in the 10th inning to secure the victory.
”He’s playing well,” LeCroy said. “He’s young and I’m glad he’s gonna be on our big ;league team someday and be a part of a special group of men.”
Thursday’s contest started off with both teams having long halves of the first inning withe the first frame lasting over a half an hour.
Columbus’ half saw them push across three runs on two hits, two walks, and two balks. Rochester’s starter Seth Shuman was called for the two balks that led to two runs coming across the plate. Shuman had failed to let the umpires know that he was working from the stretch during two different at-bat
”That was a teaching moment for Shuman,” LeCroy said. “He has to declare what he’s going to do. He didn’t seem too comfortable out of the stretch for me though. I think out of the wind up he was a lot better at getting the ball where he wanted to.”
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House answered right back for Rochester as he took the first pitch he saw and launched it 407 feet into left field for a two-run homer to pull Rochester within one. Drew Millas would tie the game later in the inning with an RBI base hit to score Andres Chaparro.
Rochester would snag the lead in the fourth thanks to a pair of RBI base hits from Andrew Pinckney and Darren Baker. Rochester was able to take advantage of a throwing error to set up the two runs to be scored in the inning.
”We applied pressure and that’s something that you can control everyday,” LeCroy said. “We forced the defense to make some tough plays and we forced some errors tonight.”
Columbus would tie it the following inning with a Brayan Rocchio two-run home run. Then in the seventh, take the lead on a Petey Halpin lead off home run.
Halpin would add an insurance run in the top of the ninth with a sacrifice fly that scored Christian Cairo, who led off the inning with a base hit then stole his way to third.
Rochester however did not give up in the bottom half of the ninth with the two runs deficit. Chaparro and Millas each drove in a run on a base hit to tie the ballgame and force extras.
Rochester was able to strand Columbus’ ghost runner at third before completing the comeback by loading the bases for House who drew a five pitch walk to win it.
”They have fought all year,” LeCroy said. “They continue to fight and I’ve preached it all year long that we are going to turn it around.”
Rochester’s four game winning streak is a season long and they look to finish out a May where their luck has been better compared to their luck in the first month of the season.
”I think earlier in the season, we lost this game tonight,” LeCroy said. “There’s no doubt about it and I think we’re just playing with a little bit more confidence.”
The Rochester Red Wings and Columbus Clippers will continue their series on Friday at 6:45 p.m. as Rochester will send lefty Andrew Alvarez (0-5, 4.70) to the mound while southpaw Doug Nikhazy (2-3, 4.17) will toe the slab for Columbus.
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