BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings had a chance to clinch their first International League title since 1997 on Wednesday night, but fell far short of doing so, as a parade of Memphis Redbirds hits (15) and some key Rochester errors (three in total) sent the Wings down in a total defeat, 15-4, in the second game of the International League Championship Series.
The loss ties the best-of-three series at one, forcing a winner-takes-all game three on Thursday in Memphis.
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“We didn’t play good,” said Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy. “We didn’t play good defense, we didn’t pitch well enough, and the offense didn’t do much early.”
Indeed, the Red Wings fell behind early in a four-run bottom of the second, as the Redbirds rallied against Isaac Lyon with two outs with an RBI single from Brody Moore and then a three-run short to right-center by Jimmy Crooks.
It was the third inning, however, that put the Red Wings out of the game for good. Chase Davis reached base to begin the inning on a throwing error by Riley Adams, and then later moved to third on a one-out single by Noah Mendlinger after left fielder Sam Petersen made an error. Trey Paige followed with a single to score two and up the lead to 6-0, starting a cascade of scoring that only ended once the Redbirds had a 13-0 lead. A two-run home run by Bligh Madris in the fourth further increased Memphis’ cushion to 15-0.
The Red Wings offense, meanwhile, struggled against Memphis lefty Mason Molina, who didn’t allow a hit until a Leandro Pineda single during his fifth and final inning shutout inning. Rochester wasn’t able to score until the eighth, when Cayden Wallace drew a bases-loaded walk and Leandro Pineda singled in two more to turn the scoreboard to 15-3. By then, it was far too little, too late, although the Red Wings added another run on a Cortland Lawson single in the ninth to bring about the final 15-4 score.
Rare positives on the night included Pineda – who went 2-for-4 with two RBI – as well as the back half of the bullpen. After the starter Lyon and relievers Jared Simpson and Paxton Schultz were battered, Ben Grable had one of his best AAA outings by throwing a perfect fifth inning, striking out one. Andry Lara then gave the Red Wings length with a three-inning relief appearance, allowing two hits while striking out three but perhaps more importantly allowing LeCroy to save more arms in his bullpen for Thursday.
The final game of the International League Championship Series is Thursday at 7:45 p.m. Zak Kent is expected to be the first man on the mound for Rochester, although LeCroy notes that the bullpen will be replenished and ready thanks partly to Lara’s performance on Wednesday. A win would send Rochester to Saturday’s AAA National Championship Game in Las Vegas, while a loss would end their season.
The team’s skipper says the squad is prepared for it.
“We’ve flushed it already, and we’ll be ready to play tomorrow, come out and fight as long as we can and as hard as we can,” says LeCroy. “These guys have been here before, but we got to win tomorrow to stay in it, win it, and play for the national championship.”
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