Red Wings Fall to Mets in High-Scoring Series Finale
IL Rochester Red Wings

Red Wings Fall to Mets in High-Scoring Series Finale

Published on August 2, 2026 under International League (IL)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


With a chance to win three-straight and take five of six in Sunday afternoon's series finale, the Rochester Red Wings (18-15, 63-43) fell to the Syracuse Mets (14-18, 52-55) in a back-and-forth battle, 9-7. After a 70-minute rain delay to kick things off, the Red Wings stormed back from an early 5-0 deficit with a five-run fifth that included a pair of RBI singles, and a two-RBI double off the bat of C Maxwell Romero Jr. to tie things at seven. Syracuse fought back in the eighth, and added an insurance run in the ninth to hand the Red Wings their second loss of the week. 1B Riley Adams finished the day as the only Rochester hitter with at least two hits with three, his third-straight multi-hit performance and ninth since the start of July.

Syracuse wasted no time in getting things going, as RF Ji Hwan Bae knocked a single off the glove of CF Andrew Pinckney after DH Mike Tauchman walked in the previous at-bat. CF Christian Pache launched a soft hit down the right field line, which turned into an RBI double as it scored Tauchman, handing the Mets their first lead since July 30. The advantage was extended moments later, when C Ben Rortvedt propelled a base hit that fell in front of a Red Wing, scoring Hwan Bae. The bases were filled after Pache came to third and Rortvedt to second following a walk by SS Zack Short, which allowed Pache to race home when LF Nick Morabito connected on a sacrifice fly.

Rochester quickly matched the intensity of their opponents in the bottom of the second, bringing men into the corners to kick things off. Riley Adams was hit by a pitch, and then quickly raced around to third base after the Mets airmailed a throw on a fielder's choice that involved DH Cayden Wallace. Adams scored after RF Leandro Pineda ripped a line drive to right field, bringing the Red Wings to within two runs.

The score then continuously shifted, as 3B Chris Morel launched a first-pitch slider all the way into his own team's bullpen for a two-run homer in the top of the third. LF Christian Franklin walked to begin the ensuing half-inning, which was followed up by 1B Riley Adams shredding an RBI double down the left field line, scoring a speedy Franklin to trim the deficit into three runs.

After a few defensive-oriented frames, SS Seaver King put the Red Wings back into the swing of things. King first slapped a single down into right field, before advancing all the way into scoring position at third on a base hit via 2B Phillip Glasser. With the bases loaded and nobody out after LF Christian Franklin walked, 3B Trey Lipscomb belted a two-RBI single directly through the center-field line, bringing the Wings back within striking distance. They knotted the game up at five moments later with a run from Franklin, when CF Andrew Pinckney tapped a pitch down center-field, deflecting off the glove of a Met and sprawling into the outfield. Rochester's impressive fifth inning didn't stop, as Maxwell Romero Jr. sailed a two-RBI double past the head of a Met in right field, scoring Lipscomb and Pinckney.

The Mets reclaimed their lead in the top of the sixth, though, as 3B Christopher Morel smashed a towering home run, his second of the day, prompting the Red Wings to fall behind, 8-7. Morel replicated the success after three scoreless innings from both squads, powering his third home run of the day directly to the center-field board to put the Mets up 9-7 in the top of the ninth.

Despite valiant efforts to knot things back up in the final frames, the defense of Syracuse proved too strong as the Mets concluded the series with a 9-7 victory.

After a night in which the Red Wings utilized eight different arms, LHP Zach Penrod assumed starting duties for the ninth time this season. Penrod allowed three hits and runs each, and was taken out for RHP Robert Cranz in the bottom of the second. Cranz let up a pair of hits and runs each over 1.2 innings of work, exiting in the top of the fourth for RHP Kyle Nicolas, who accounted for the team's first two strikeouts of the game. RHP Justin Lawrence entered as relief an inning later, allowing a home run while tossing two strikeouts. LHP Alex Young was given the nod in the top of the seventh, showcasing a scoreless performance with two strikeouts over 1.0 innings. RHP Andry Lara repeated the defensive success, taking over in the top of the eighth and throwing a strikeout alongside a blank stat sheet. RHP Paxton Schultz came in as the Red Wings final pitcher of the day to begin the ninth, allowing a home run while also hurling a strikeout.

The Rochester Red Wings Player of the Game is 1B Riley Adams, who accounted for the game's first run in the bottom of the second. He ripped an RBI double a few innings later, headlining a day that saw the 30-year-old go 3-for-4 at the diamond. Adams ended this week's series with a hit in each game, something he has done in only two prior series' over his Minor League career. After today, the righty is batting .464 against the Mets this season, a mark that ranks first among all Triple-A batters with at least 25 at-bats against the team.

Despite the loss, Rochester picked up their 11th series win of the season, 4-2 over the Mets. The Red Wings will now hit the road for the first time this month, taking the 225-mile trip to PNC Field to take on the Scranton/WB RailRiders in next week's series. The Wings, currently 5.0 games behind the RailRiders in the International League second half standings, will look to set the tone in the series opener on Tuesday, August 4 at 7:05 p.m.

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