Blankenhorn Goes Deep to Lift Red Wings over Mets
Published on March 31, 2024 under International League (IL)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
The Rochester Red Wings notched their second consecutive win and first series victory Sunday afternoon, beating the Syracuse Mets, 7-2. RF Travis Blankenhorn knocked in four RBI on three hits including a three-run home run, while RHP Jackson Rutledge delivered a strong 5.0 innings to secure the win. 2B Darren Baker stole a pair of bases for the second-straight game, becoming the first Red Wing to do so since Denard Span (August 2-3, 2007).
Back-to-back singles from LF James Wood and 1B Juan Yepez put two runners on for Blankenhorn in the top half of the first. The Red Wings home run leader a season ago promptly launched his first of 2024, a three-run shot that came off the bat at 104.4 MPH to give Rochester a commanding early 3-0 lead.
Syracuse wasted no time answering with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. After a single from SS Luisangel Acuña and a walk to 1B Ji-Man Choi, DH Mark Vientos laced a single up the middle to score Acuña. The inning ended with a double play to keep the Red Wing lead at 3-1 heading to the second.
In the third, Blankenhorn picked up his second hit of the afternoon and stole second to put himself into scoring position. The next at-bat, DH Alex Call drew a walk and SS Jack Dunn followed with a bunt that resulted in a throwing error, allowing Blankenhorn to score. C Brady Lindsly, making his first start of the 2024 season, roped a sharp ground ball to first that allowed Alu to score and swell the lead to 5-1.
Mets' pitching settled in during the fourth and fifth innings before walks to Darren Baker, James Wood, and Juan Yepez loaded the bases in the sixth. Blankenhorn then logged his fourth RBI of the day on a hit by pitch in the next at-bat, followed by an infield single from Call that allowed Wood to score and made the Rochester lead 7-1.
After five straight innings without a run, Syracuse 2B Jose Iglesias hit a solo homer to tap into Rochester's lead, bringing the score to 7-2 in the seventh. That would be the Mets' last chance to score as Red Wings pitchers held them hitless through the final eight outs, securing the win and taking two of three games in their first series of the season.
Washington's No. 15 prospect (MLB.com) RHP Jackson Rutledge made the start for the Red Wings in the series finale. The Missouri native recorded the win after allowing one earned on four hits across 5.0 innings while walking two and striking out seven. RHP Adonis Medina followed Rutledge in relief, making his first Minor League appearance since he was a member of the Mets in 2022. The Dominican Republic native hurled a scoreless sixth inning with a pair of strikeouts. LHP Tim Cate tossed the bottom of the seventh, pitching 1.0 inning, allowing one run on one hit with a strikeout. RHP Luis Reyes pitched a clean eighth inning while walking and striking out one, and RHP Jacob Barnes entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and tossed a scoreless inning to close the door for Rochester.
RF Travis Blankenhorn earns Diamond Pro Player of the Game honors in the series finale after launching his first homer of the season. The Pottsville, Pennsylvania native finished the game going 3-for-4 with a three-run homer, four RBI, and two runs scored. A season ago, Blankenhorn hit 23 homers in a Rochester uniform, the most by a Red Wing left-handed hitter since Garrett Jones hit the same number in 2008.
Rochester takes the day off Monday and returns to action Tuesday for their first home game of the season, taking on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI). LHP DJ Herz takes the ball for the Wings in what will be his Triple-A debut, coming off a season in which he struck out 133 batters between Double-A Tennessee (CHC) and Double-A Harrisburg, second-most among Nationals Minor Leaguers. Lehigh Valley will counter with RHP Max Castillo, first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.
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