Romero delivers hit, Wings win in ten
Published on August 22, 2006 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
Alex Romero's 10th inning single gave the Red Wings a 4-3 win over the Syracuse SkyChiefs Tuesday night at Frontier Field. With first place Scranton's loss Tuesday to Buffalo, Rochester moves to within one game of first place in the IL North Division.
In the 10th against reliever Francisco Rosario, Garrett Jones was at second base with two outs before Rosario (0-3) hit pinch-hitter Kevin West. Romero stepped in and slapped a single to right field, bringing Jones around from second to score the winning run.
Syracuse tried to manufacture a run in the top of the first, but Quinton McCracken gunned down Luis Figueroa at home. After singling and stealing second, Figueroa was waved home on Kevin Barker's hard hit grounder to right field, but McCracken's throw was on time and on target, as catcher Shawn Wooten caught the ball and tagged Figueroa out.
In the bottom of the second, the Wings made a couple big two-out hits to take a early lead. Wooten, who is batting .306 with two outs and runners in scoring position, singled to score Glenn Williams from second and move Romero to third. Tommy Watkins then hit a short hopper that 'Chiefs third basemen Rob Cosby couldn't handle, scoring Romero for a 2-0 Rochester lead.
Sergio Santos lead the top of the third off with a single, but Wings starter Scott Baker worked his way out of trouble. Santos moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but Baker struck out Figueroa and Chad Mottola flew out to preserve the 2-0 lead.
A strange throwing error in the fourth put the Chiefs on the board. With Russ Adams on first, Cosby ripped a double to left. Romero fielded the ball and fired it back toward second base, only there were not any Wings around to catch Romero's throw. The ball rolled toward the Wing dugout as Adams crossed home and Cosby reached third. Curtis Thigpen singled in Cosby to tie the game 2-2 before Santos hit into a double play to end the inning.
After Mottola scored in the top of the sixth for a 3-2 'Chiefs lead, the Wings fought back. McCracken started it off by lining a single off Cosby's glove at third with no outs. Terry Tiffee put runners at first and second with a blooper that dropped in left field, then Jones doubled off an almost identical blooper to left that scored McCracken and brought Tiffee to third. Syracuse held off the attack though, minimizing the damage and ending the sixth tied 3-3.
The seventh saw the Wings work out of their own trouble. After an error and a walk to put two on, Baker left the game with one out. Lefty Matt Ford made a quick appearance, striking out fellow lefty Kevin Barker before being replaced by Beau Kemp. Ford's called strike resulted in an ejection for both Barker and Syracuse Manager Mike Basso, who were arguing the call. Kemp retired Mottola to keep it 3-3.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Chris Heintz drilled a hot shot up the middle, striking pitcher Josh Banks in the leg then ricoheting back to the foul line. Heintz beat it out for an infield hit, while Banks was removed from the game and replaced by Ben Howard.
The Wings had a ninth inning chance to win it against Howard; after Romero walked, pinch-hitter Gil Velazquez moved Romero to second with a sacrifice bunt. Watkins drew a walk, but Torres flied out and McCracken grounded out to end the threat and send the game into extra innings.
Bobby Korecky (4-3) pitched the 10th for the Wings, allowing one hit and striking out Curtis Thigpen with two runners on to end the inning.
NOTES: Baker's last start was last Wednesday, a 5-0 win over Syracuse (6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO). Baker had surrendered three hits in the first inning alone Wednesday...McCracken now has a six-game hit streak...Watkins took a hit - and a run - away from Syracuse in the eighth, making a back-hand pick to snag a ball hit by Sergio Santos, then firing a strike to Jones at first to end the inning when the SkyChiefs had runners at second and third... Kemp made a nice play in the ninth, bare-handing a bunt from Wayne Lydon and gunning Lydon out on a close play at first...Rochester improved to 15-3 in extra innings games this season, while Syracuse is 9-6 when playing more than nine innings. Rochester's 15 extra inning wins is the most by an International League team, since the 1989 Syracuse team (15-5), known then as just the "Chiefs"...The Red Wings won the season series 10-6. The Red Wings w! ere 5-3 at Frontier Field and 5-3 at Alliance Bank Stadium. A season ago, Rochester and Syracuse split the season series 8-8. The Red Wings were 5-3 at Frontier Field and 3-5 at Alliance Bank Stadium...If the Red Wings offense can score four runs in a game there's a good chance the pitching staff will make it stand. Rochester now has a 61-12 record when the Wings score four runs or more in a game, 13-45 when the Red Wings score three or fewer runs...The Twins plan on activating OF/DH Rondell White on Thursday, and will probably send a position player to Rochester to make room on the active roster for White.
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