BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings (0-1, 27-46) opened the second half of International League play with a 12-5 loss to Syracuse Mets (1-0, 32-44) Tuesday evening.
”That’s kind of been our season,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. “We have not been able to hold leads. We the new second half, hopefully, we can flush this and come out tomorrow and regain the momentum.”
On a 90 degree sunny day at Innovative Field, Rochester and Syracuse traded long balls as the two teams combined for seven homers. Unfortunately for the Red Wings, all of the Met’s long balls were multi-run homers including two three run shots in a eight run eighth inning.
”The ball was flying tonight,” LeCroy said. “Line to line, once that ball got up in the air it was going. Both teams took advantage of it.”
Jakson Reetz led the Syracuse offense with two of the long balls and pushing across five runs. Reetz did not start Tuesday’s contest, but came in after a half inning when Francisco Alvarez left game with dizziness.
Donovan Walton and Luke Ritter connected for the other two Syracuse home runs.
“We didn’t outlast them on the mound, and they did,” LeCroy said.
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Rochester opened the scoring when Trey Lipscomb legged out a triple and was later driven in by Darren Baker with a sacrifice fly in the second.
After Syracuse took 4-1 in the fifth, Baker led off the inning with his first home run since 2023 into the Mets bullpen to pull Rochester within two.
”His homer kind of turned the momentum,” LeCroy said. “We got back in the ball game.”
Robert Hassell III pulled the Red Wings with one later in the inning with a towering homer down the right field line that barely stayed fair.
”He’s got ability and talent,” LeCroy said. “He just has to continue to play and develop in all other areas of his game.”
Andrew Pinckney tied the game for Rochester the following inning with his own long ball to homer in back-to-back contest.
”He’s a very coachable kid,” LeCroy said. “He’s very athletic and strong. You’re starting to see some of the fruits of his labor with getting the ball up in the air and getting into a good hitting position to impact the ball.”
The Red Wings scored their final run after drawing four straight walks in the seventh that allowed Nasim Nunez to score.
Rochester’s bullpen continues to struggle late in tight contests. The bullpen surrendered the eight runs in the eighth in what was up to that point a tight ballgame.
”We just haven’t had anybody take ownership in the eighth and ninth innings,” LeCroy said. “We didn’t finish. We can’t be giving away free bags and adding pressure on the defense and pitchers.”
The Rochester Red Wings and Syracuse Mets will continue their series on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. as both starters are yet to be announced.
‘2nd verse—same as the 1st’.
So the song went back in the 60’s. New start–same result. No pitching. None. The organization cupboard is bare. It’s very disheartening to take a one run lead into the 8th inning only to lose by 7 runs.
Was hoping to get a nice fresh start but the issue (pointed out clearly by LeCroy) remains the bullpen.
Very disappointed. Can’t get buried early again this half. Gotta right the ship immediately, if thats remotely possible