Extras Win in Columbus Expands Wild Card Lead
Kennys Vargas drove in Mitch Garver with a single in the 11th inning and the Rochester Red Wings beat the Columbus Clippers 4-3 Wednesday night at Huntington Park.Lehigh Valley lost in extra-innings to Norfolk, meaning the Red Wings (71-52) now possess a 2.0 game lead over the IronPigs in the
Lehigh Valley lost in extra-innings to Norfolk, meaning the Red Wings (71-52) now possess a 2.0 game lead over the IronPigs in the Wild Card chase.
Former Ohio State product
The Red Wings wasted little time getting on the board, scoring a 1st-inning run for the second straight game against the Clippers (63-60).
Rochester regained the lead in the 3rd as
Both starters then settled in. Morimando retired the final 10 batters he faced before being lifted for rehabbing Andrew Miller in the 7th. Hurlbut pitched into the 7th but was lifted after a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt.
Hurlbut was in line for the win after surrendering one run on seven hits with four strikeouts over 6.1 innings. Morimando rebounded from a rough outing at Frontier Field for the Clippers, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 6.0 frames.
Columbus would tie the game in the 8th, plating two runs against three Wings relievers. Michael Martinez opened the inning with a bloop ground-rule double that landed on the chalk down the left-field line. Bard was lifted after a groundout in favor of
Wimmers entered with one out and a runner at first base in the 10th and struck out Naquin and Shaffer to send it to the 11th. Garver doubled to center against Kyle Crockett (5-4) and Vargas drove him in with a single to right. Wimmers struck out the final two batters in a perfect bottom half.
Goodrum finished with three hits and scored twice. Palka and Garver both tallied multi-hit efforts for the Red Wings who moved a season-high 19 games over .500.
Next Home Game: The Red Wings begin a crucial seven-game homestand with a four-game set against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees) on Monday, August 21 at 7:05 p.m. at Frontier Field.
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