Wings Whitewash Mud Hens
By: Thad Brown
Updated: July 13, 2012
J. R. Towles had two hits, including a game-tying home run, to help the Red Wings rally to a 7-3 win over the Toledo Mud Hens Friday night at Frontier Field. With the win, Rochester jumped over Syracuse into fifth place in the IL North division. The series with Toledo continues Saturday at 7:05 p.m., with The Famous Chicken performing, and fireworks after the game.
Rochester right-hander Liam Hendriks took the hill for the Red Wings on Friday night, and appeared to be on point early as he retired the Mud Hens in order in the top of the first. Rochester couldn't find any offense in the bottom of the first inning, leaving the game scoreless after one.
After looking strong in the first inning, Hendriks ran into trouble in the second inning as a leadoff double from Toledo's John Lindsey led to a two-run inning for the Mud Hens, giving the away team the early 2-0 lead after two innings as Rochester couldn't respond in the bottom half of the inning. The runs scored by Toledo ended Hendriks' streak of 23 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
Hendriks regained his composure and retired the side in the top of the third inning, and the Red Wings offense was ready to respond. Sean Burroughs smacked a double with one out to spark the Rochester offense in the bottom of the third and Towles followed up by hitting his first home run of the season over the left field wall, tying the game at two after three innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tsuoyshi Nishioka was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Ward after arguing a called third strike. Ray Chang came into the game to replace Nishioka at second base.
The score would remain the same between the two teams until the bottom of the fifth inning. Burroughs led off the inning and reached base via an error. Towles then laid down a bunt single and Pedro Florimon followed by laying down a bunt and reaching via a fielder's choice. With the bases loaded and no outs, Matt Carson ripped a single to left field to break the tie and give Rochester a 3-2 lead. Chris Parmelee then hit a pop-fly to center field, but a throwing error allowed for Towles to score from third base, increasing the lead to 4-2. Danny Valencia gave the Red Wings their last run of the inning by hitting a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Rochester the 5-2 lead after five innings.
The Australian native Hendriks continued to keep the Mud Hens offense at bay in the sixth inning, again retiring the side and keeping the score in tact. In the bottom of the sixth, Clete Thomas led off the inning with a double and Chang roped an RBI single to score Thomas from second, swelling the Red Wings' lead to 6-2 after six innings of action.
In the top of the seventh, Hendriks again stifled the Toledo offense, as he finished the game having allowed only three hits and two earned runs in seven strong innings of work. The Red Wings offense threatened in the bottom half of the inning as both Parmelee and Wilkin Ramirez singled, but no runs were to score.
Kyle Waldrop came into the game in the top of the eighth to relieve Hendriks and despite allowing two batters to reach base, he escaped the inning unscathed to secure the score at 6-2.
Rochester tacked on one more run on an RBI single from Florimon in the bottom of the eighth, making the score 7-2 Rochester.
Waldrop allowed one run in the ninth, but Luis Perdomo came in to seal the 7-3 victory for the Red Wings.
Rochester right-hander Liam Hendriks took the hill for the Red Wings on Friday night, and appeared to be on point early as he retired the Mud Hens in order in the top of the first. Rochester couldn't find any offense in the bottom of the first inning, leaving the game scoreless after one.
After looking strong in the first inning, Hendriks ran into trouble in the second inning as a leadoff double from Toledo's John Lindsey led to a two-run inning for the Mud Hens, giving the away team the early 2-0 lead after two innings as Rochester couldn't respond in the bottom half of the inning. The runs scored by Toledo ended Hendriks' streak of 23 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
Hendriks regained his composure and retired the side in the top of the third inning, and the Red Wings offense was ready to respond. Sean Burroughs smacked a double with one out to spark the Rochester offense in the bottom of the third and Towles followed up by hitting his first home run of the season over the left field wall, tying the game at two after three innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tsuoyshi Nishioka was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Ward after arguing a called third strike. Ray Chang came into the game to replace Nishioka at second base.
The score would remain the same between the two teams until the bottom of the fifth inning. Burroughs led off the inning and reached base via an error. Towles then laid down a bunt single and Pedro Florimon followed by laying down a bunt and reaching via a fielder's choice. With the bases loaded and no outs, Matt Carson ripped a single to left field to break the tie and give Rochester a 3-2 lead. Chris Parmelee then hit a pop-fly to center field, but a throwing error allowed for Towles to score from third base, increasing the lead to 4-2. Danny Valencia gave the Red Wings their last run of the inning by hitting a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Rochester the 5-2 lead after five innings.
The Australian native Hendriks continued to keep the Mud Hens offense at bay in the sixth inning, again retiring the side and keeping the score in tact. In the bottom of the sixth, Clete Thomas led off the inning with a double and Chang roped an RBI single to score Thomas from second, swelling the Red Wings' lead to 6-2 after six innings of action.
In the top of the seventh, Hendriks again stifled the Toledo offense, as he finished the game having allowed only three hits and two earned runs in seven strong innings of work. The Red Wings offense threatened in the bottom half of the inning as both Parmelee and Wilkin Ramirez singled, but no runs were to score.
Kyle Waldrop came into the game in the top of the eighth to relieve Hendriks and despite allowing two batters to reach base, he escaped the inning unscathed to secure the score at 6-2.
Rochester tacked on one more run on an RBI single from Florimon in the bottom of the eighth, making the score 7-2 Rochester.
Waldrop allowed one run in the ninth, but Luis Perdomo came in to seal the 7-3 victory for the Red Wings.
