BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings (37-25 in the second half, 82-53 overall) moved back into first place in the International League’s second half on Saturday, winning a slugfest with the Syracuse Mets (33-28 in the second half, 71-63 overall), 14-9.
Rochester hit six home runs in the win, including two from right fielder Leandro Pineda, to win the back-and-forth contest that saw a 2-1 Red Wings lead after five erupt into a high-scoring affair between the sixth and eighth, culminating in a seven-run top of the eighth that finally put Rochester ahead for good.
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Having gained an early 2-1 lead after fourth innings thanks to a Pineda score on a Mets error in the second plus a solo shot from Pineda in the fourth, the Red Wings extended their lead in the top of the sixth with a solo home run by Andrew Pinckney and later an RBI single from Sam Petersen to up the lead to 4-1. Syracuse answered back in a big way in the bottom half, however, scoring five runs, including back-to-back homers by Ronny Mauricio and MJ Melendez off Connor Van Scoyoc,. After six, Syracuse led 6-4.
Rochester came back in the top of the seventh, however, pulling ahead on a passed ball followed by a two-run single by Cayden Wallace to jump ahead, 7-6. Syracuse again answered, though, with Emilien Pitre homering off Andry Lara to tie the game at seven before the Mets added two more runs later in the inning to grab the 9-7 lead.
In the top of the eighth, however, Rochester finally put it away. Max Romero Jr. led off the inning with a solo homer, and later on Sam Petersen scored the tying run on a bases-loaded force out play on a ball hit by Trey Lipscomb. Recent acquisition Buddy Kennedy put the Wings ahead with a three-run shot, his first in a Rochester uniform, to make it 12-9, and Cayden Wallace and Leandro Pineda both went deep to bring about the 14-9 final score.
Pineda ultimately ended the night as Rochester’s best-performing offensive player, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, two RBI, and four runs scored. Kennedy and Wallace both had three RBI.
On the mound for the Wings, Chandler Champlain got a no-decision, going five innings while allowing five hits and an earned run while walking three and striking out seven. Justin Lawrence earned the relief win (2-1) for a perfect one-third inning after coming in for Lara in the seventh. Kyle Nicolas and Jake Bird threw a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively, to end the game.
Rochester and Syracuse conclude their series on Sunday at 5:35 p.m.
They got kinda lucky Saturday. The pitching and ‘d’ was pathetic. But the ‘lucky’ ran out Sunday when two relievers threw the game away turning an important win into a horrible, ugly loss. Leading by 2 in the 8th, reliever #1 throws 8 balls to put the first two batters on base. At that point, the way LeCroy changes pitchers, I’d have had this guy in the showers immediately. An excuse me DP which should have been ball 4 prolonged the agony. Two laser beam doubles followed and game is tied.
Reliever #2 comes in 9th inning. He allows a solid single, then a wild pitch, then another walk, then while fielding a bunt, he slips and airmails the throw down the first baseline. Game, set, match. Two of the most ugly innings since….well game 2 of the DH Friday, which the bullpen also gifted away.
The Syracuse series, much like the killer Toledo series to end the 1st half has once again exposed the pitching staff. If Wings can somehow recover against the hot SWB team, I’ll tip my cap. Not likely. You just can’t blow so many close games like this.
Ugly