Wings Hold off Hens in 9-7 Win
June 12, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
Logan Darnell turned in a strong eight inning start, and the Red Wings held off a late rally to defeat the Toledo Mud Hens 9-7 Sunday afternoon at Frontier Field. The win keeps the first place Wings a game ahead of second place Scranton for the International League North Division lead.
After a day off Monday, the Wings will open a three game-set with the Columbus Clippers (Indians) here Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. Every Tuesday is a Fan 4-Pack Night with four tickets, hot dogs, drinks and a yearbook for $36 ($40 day of game). Complete promotions details below....
The pitching match-up featured two left-handers, with Daniel Norris opposing Darnell. Darnell set down the first six batters he faced Sunday; his teammates rewarded him with an early lead in the bottom of the second. Eddie Rosario led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wilfredo Tovar, and scored on an RBI single from Tommy Field.
Logan Schafer extended his hitting streak to 10 games on a third inning pop-up that Toledo shortstop Dixon Machado lost in the sun, resulting in a double. The Wings came up empty in the frame, however, as Jorge Polanco popped up to a sliding Miguel Gonzalez behind the plate and Kennys Vargas struck out for the second time in the game.
Darnell allowed just two base runners through the first four innings. After walking JaCoby Jones in the fourth, he was able to pick a running Jones off on a throw to first baseman James Beresford. Beresford threw to shortstop Tovar, who made the tag out.
The Mud Hens threatened in the top of the fifth inning with a Steven Moya single and Chad Huffman double. Rochester thwarted any chance of a run with two nice defensive plays by Beresford. Beresford fielded a Casey McGehee grounder and fired to catcher Carlos Paulino, who tagged out Huffman at home for the first out. Tyler Collins followed up with another grounder for first, which Beresford cleanly fielded and started a 3-6-3 double play to end the inning.
After getting out of trouble, the Wings would extend the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the inning. Adam Brett Walker led off with a line-drive double to left and advanced to third on a single to left by Paulino. Beresford drove Walker in with another single, this time to right field. Polanco walked to load the bases, then Vargas walked in Paulino to add to his league lead in RBI with his 42nd, giving the team a 3-0 lead. A soft groundout by Rosario to Norris was enough to send in another run, extending the score to 4-0.
Norris's day ended after the fifth inning, as he was relieved by Dustin Molleken. Norris (3-6) allowed four runs, all earned, on six hits, struck out four batters and issued three walks.
The Wings padded their lead in the bottom of the seventh, when Schafer singled then stole second. Vargas walked for the second time in the game, and both runners came home on Rosario's double into the right field corner. Tovar's sacrifice fly brought home Rosario, and it all added up to a 7-0 Wings lead.
Darnell had scattered five hits through seven innings; Sunday marked the seventh time in 12 starts this season Darnell has worked six innings or more. The Mud Hens opened the eighth inning by loading the bases with none out using two hits and a walk. After a mound visit from Wings pitching coach Stu Cliburn, Gonzalez hit a flyball to center. A run scored on the sacrifice fly, but Rosario was charged with a throwing error on the play which allowed both runners to move up a base. That factored into another run scoring on a sacrifice fly by Machado, which made the score 7-2 Wings.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth the Wings got both runs back. Beresford's double brought home Walker, and Schafer's third hit of the game scored Beresford to give the Wings a 9-2 advantage.
Darnell (7-5) was relieved by David Martinez after the eighth. Darnell allowed seven hits, was charged with one earned run, struck out four and walked two. He threw 97 pitches, 66 for strikes.
The Mud Hens scored four runs against Martinez in the ninth, pulling to within three at 9-6. That prompted a pitching change, with Ryan O'Rourke taking over with two outs and a runner at first. Machado lifted a double into the right field corner, scoring another run and making the score 9-7. O'Rourke walked Anthony Gose on four pitches, and Nick Greenwood replaced O'Rourke with the heart of the order due up. Greenwood retired Jones on a grounder back to the mound, stopping the rally and ending the game. Greenwood picked up his first save with the Wings.
The Mud Hens out-hit the Wings 13-10. Schafer and Rosario logged multi-hit games; Schafer has a hit in all 10 games he has played for the Wings.
NOTES: Sunday's paid attendance of 7,920 brought the three-day weekend total to 28,896...Double-A Chattanooga outfielder Daniel Palka is the Twins minor league Player of the Week for the second time this season...Palka played in seven games for the Lookouts, hitting .320 (8-for-25) with two triples, four home runs, 11 RBI, six walks and eight runs scored...Palka was acquired this off-season from Arizona, in exchange for catcher/outfielder Chris Herrmann...Palka has played in 58 games this season, hitting .273 (60-for-220) with nine doubles, three triples, 15 home runs and 48 RBI.
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- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
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