IL Rochester Red Wings

Wings Come Back to Beat Worcester, 6-5

Published on July 27, 2023 under International League (IL)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


The Rochester Red Wings came from behind to beat Worcester Thursday night, 6-5, and take a 2-1 series lead. The Wings offense combined to post six extra-base hits, including a game-winning two-run homer off the bat of 2B Erick Mejia. C Drew Millas and RF Blake Rutherford each posted three-hit performances, while RHP Gerson Moreno logged his team-leading seventh save of the season.

After a 70-minute rain delay, Worcester opened the scoring in the bottom half of the first on a wild pitch that scored SS David Hamilton. Blake Rutherford responded with a leadoff double in the second and scored from third on an RBI groundout from 1B Matt Adams after a balk advanced him to third base. The score remained at 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth, when RF Bobby Dalbec launched his International League-leading 25th home run of the season to give the WooSox a 2-1 advantage. After a single the next at-bat, a throwing error on a stolen base attempt allowed CF Ceddanne Rafaela to score from second base.

A two-out walk to rehabbing DH Trevor Story in the fifth, followed by a RBI double from C Reese McGuire in the ensuing at-bat bolstered the Worcester lead to three runs through five innings. The Wings fought back in the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out. Adams hit into a double play that brought home 3B Jake Alu to cut the lead to 4-2. In the next at-bat, Drew Millas launched his third home run of the season, a two-run shot that traveled 394 feet and tied the game at four apiece.

Trevor Story broke the tie in the seventh, giving Worcester a 5-4 lead on a bases-loaded ground ball double play that scored 1B Niko Kavadas. Millas led off the top of the ninth inning with his second extra-base hit of the night, a double that put the tying run in scoring position. Erick Mejia followed with a go-ahead two-run home run, his fourth of the year to give the Wings a 6-5 lead. This marked Rochester's fourth homer to take the lead in the ninth or later this season. A two-out double in the bottom half put a runner in scoring position, but Gerson Moreno closed the door on a strikeout looking to give the Wings a 5-4 win.

RHP José Ureña took the ball to start the game, his 14th of the season with the Wings. The Santo Domingo native logged 5.0 innings pitched for the eighth time in his last nine starts, allowing three earned on five hits while striking out four and walking two. RHP Joel Peguero was first out of the bullpen for Rochester, allowing one earned over 1.2 innings pitched before he was relieved by LHP Tim Cate, who got the final out of the seventh. RHP Amos Willingham (3-1, 3.21) and Gerson Moreno covered the eighth and ninth, respectively, combining to allow one hit while striking out two.

Thursday night's Diamond Pro Player of the Game goes to Drew Millas. The switch hitter logged his first three-hit game at the Triple-A level, going 3-for-3 with a game-tying home run, a double, two RBI, a walk and two runs scored. Through 18 games in July, he carries a .355 (22-for-62) batting average.

The Wings look to even up the series at 2-2 Friday night at Polar Park. RHP Joan Adon is slated to make his 17th start with Rochester against WooSox southpaw Shane Drohan. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m.

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International League Stories from July 27, 2023


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