Rochester prevails in extras, 5-3

Rochester prevails in extras, 5-3

The Wings erase a 3-0 hole and win in 10 innings

The Rochester Red Wings took on the Toledo Mud Hens Tuesday night in game one of a six-game series. The Wings fell down 3-0 early, but roared back and took down Toledo in the 10th inning to snap a two-game skid and three game losing streak against the Hens.

After RHP Paolo Espino worked a scoreless first inning, the Mud Hens hopped on the board in the bottom of the second inning courtesy of a two-run home run just fair down the left field line from SS Jermaine Palacios. Toledo tacked on another run in the bottom of the third inning off of an RBI single from CF Parker Meadows, extending the Mud Hens’ lead to 3-0. Rochester responded in the top of the fourth inning when RF Jake Alu smacked a solo homer, his third long ball of the season.

They added on again in the top of the sixth inning via an RBI single from DH Franmil Reyes who drove in Alu to bring the deficit to 3-2. Alu’s double, his second extra base hit of the evening, set up the scoring chance for Reyes, who snapped an 0-for-10 slide with the hit. Toledo threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning against LHP Anthony Banda, but Rochester kept up its dominant bullpen performance, and Banda struck out RF Brendon Davis to hold off the Mud Hens.

That momentum carried into the top half of the seventh inning. A walk and a steal from CF Derek Hill set up 3B Carter Kieboom, who blooped a single into shallow right field, tying the game at 3-3. Rochester struck first in extra innings in the top of the 10th inning. RF Travis Blankenhorn grounded out, moving the ghost runner to third base for PH Franklin Barretto to drive him in with a bloop single. C Drew Millas, in his fifth at bat with the Wings, belted a triple that scored Barretto, extending Rochester’s lead to 5-3.

RHP Paolo Espino rebounded from his last start going five innings, allowing three runs off three hits and striking out four. Espino allowed the fewest runs in an outing since 5/5 against SWB. The Wings’ bullpen clamped down on the Mud Hens’ hitters and didn’t allow a run through five innings of work. LHP Anthony Banda, RHP Hobie Harris and RHP Gerson Moreno (2-2, 3.48) allowed just three hits, walked four and struck out four without allowing a run.

LF Jake Alu earned Diamond Pro Player of the Game honors after he went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs. Alu is now 5-for-9 with two extra base hits in his two starts since getting optioned back to Rochester (5/21).

The Red Wings will look to make it two in a row Wednesday morning for the second game of the series against the Mud Hens. Rochester’s RHP Jose Ureña is scheduled to start against Toledo’s RHP Brenan Hanifee. First Pitch Tuesday is set for 11:05 a.m.

Find the box score attached here.