Red Wings bats smash way to third straight win over Scranton, 13-5

BY DAN GLICKMAN

The Rochester Red Wings took their third straight win on Friday at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, beating the RailRider 13-5 behind an offense that hit four home runs, including a grand slam by Cayden Wallace and a solo shot by Yohandy Morales in his first game back from the injured list.

The win moves the Red Wings (21-16 in second half, 66-44 overall) to three games back of Scranton (23-12 in the second half, 60-49 overall) for the second half title in the International League.

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Rochester took an early lead with a six-run first inning. After Seaver King grounded out to start the game, Scranton starter Adam Kloffenstein walked the next five Red Wings he faced, bringing in two runs. Then came second baseman Cayden Wallace, who caught a 1-1 fastball high and deposited it at 107.9 MPH about 431 feet to left for a grand slam to up the lead to 6-0. Wallace ultimately ended the game with a 3-for-4 night with four RBI and three runs scored.

Although Scranton would strike back with a two-run Anthony Volpe shot in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 6-2, Rochester soon bounced back with an RBI groundout by King in the fourth to make it 7-2. Morales’ home run in the fifth, his first since coming off the Injured List shortly before Friday’s game and 22^nd of the season overall, further increased the lead to 8-2, and then Maxwell Romero Jr. added on with a solo shot in the sixth to make it 9-3. Scranton would add two more runs by the end of the game, but the Red Wings were already more than enough ahead and put an exclamation point in the ninth with a Romero single and a three-run shot by Leandro Pineda.

On the mound, the Red Wings had a bullpen game, as eight pitchers took part, with Jared Simpsons working a no-hit first to open the game and Matt Krook earning the win (1-0) with a perfect second. Andry Lara was the lone pitcher to go two innings, allowing two hits and an unearned run.

The Red Wings, now a season-high 22 games over .500, continue their series on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. While it is unknown who the Red Wings will have on the rubber, Scranton expects to send out righty Dom Hamel.