Bulls down Wings in 10

Jason Wheeler and the Red Wings had a shaky first inning. Jake Hager doubled for the Bulls with one out to put a runner on base early in the inning. J.P. Arencibia hit a ball into right-center field with two outs, which should have been an easy catch for Daniel Palka – however he dropped the ball, allowing Hager to score. During the next at-bat Arencibia advanced to third base because of a wild pitch, and Casey Gillaspie notched a double to drive in a second run. The momentum continued for the Bulls when Dayron Varona hit the third double of the inning, making the score 3-0. Wheeler was able to maintain his composure, striking out the next batter to end the inning.

In the bottom of the first inning, lead-off hitter Darin Mastroianni hit a single against Bulls starter Austin Pruitt; however, he was caught stealing second base for the first out of the inning. James Beresford was able to obtain a hit during the next at-bat, which extended his hitting streak to seven games. A flyout and a strikeout ended the inning for Rochester, leaving Beresford stranded on base.

Wheeler put the first inning behind him and made a comeback in the second inning, striking out the side. After two innings, Wheeler had five strikeouts.

Adam Brett Walker helped the Wings with a home run in the bottom of the second inning. Walker hit his 18th home run this season. Byung Ho Park utilized his speed and beat out an infield hit, followed up by a walk from Tommy Field. In an unusual play, Wilfredo Tovar hit a popout which was dropped by the Bulls, allowing the Red Wings to have a runners on first and third base with one out situation after Field was thrown out at second base. A flyout and a strikeout wrapped up the inning, and Rochester trailed 3-1 after two innings.

The Bulls furthered their lead in the top of the third inning. Jake Hager walked during the first at-bat, and a hit by Arencibia put runners on first and third base. During Gillaspie’s at-bat, he hit a grounder which allowed the Red Wings to get the out at second base; however, Hager crossed home plate for Durham’s fourth run of the evening.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, singles from Walker, Field and Tovar loaded up the bases for Rochester with one out. The Red Wings could not capitalize on the opportunity, leaving three runners stranded heading into the fifth inning.

Wheeler pitched five innings, allowing five hits and four runs (one earned run) with a walk and seven strikeouts. Wheeler threw 98 pitches, 64 for strikes; it was just the third time in 15 starts Wheeler did not pitch at least six innings. D.J. Baxendale came on to relieve Wheeler in the top of the sixth.

The Wings had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, getting hits from Park and Tovar and a walk to Murphy. Mastroianni swung at the first pitch from Pruitt and hit a tapper back to the mound, missing another opportunity for the Wings to get back in the game.

In the top of the seventh inning, Hager hit his second double of the evening. The Red Wings were about to end the inning when Arencibia struck out on a wild pitch and Arencibia reached first base. With two outs and runners on the corners, Ryan O’Rourke was brought in to relieve Baxendale. On the next play, Tovar dove to stop a grounder and tossed the ball to Jorge Polanco in order to get the force out at second base.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Tyler Sturdevant was brought in to relieve Pruitt. With one out, Polanco belted a home run to right field to make the score 4-2. t was Polanco’s eighth homer of the season.

Pruitt worked six innings with nine hits, one run, two walks, four strikeouts and one home run. He threw 99 pitches, 61 for strikes.

Alex Wimmers relieved O’Rourke with one out and a runner on first. Wimmers walked the first batter he faced, then struck out a pair to escape the scoring threat. Wimmers fanned four in 1.2 innings of work.

The Wings tied the game in the bottom of the ninth against Ryan Garton (2-0). Hits by Logan Schafer and Beresford put runners at second and third with one out. That’s when Polanco looped a single to left, scoring both runners and tying the game at 4-4.

Buddy Boshers took over in the top of the 10th inning. Varona led off with a grounder to third, with Field making a throwing error on the play that let Varona advance to second base. Boshers (1-1) struck out Jake Goebbert, then walked Daniel Robertson. A flyball out was out number two, but both runners tagged and advanced putting runners at second and third. A walk loaded the bases, and then the Bulls went ahead on an infield hit by Hager. On the play, Tovar made a great stop of Hager’s hit, but his throw attempting a force at second was not in time and the go ahead run scored. Motter followed with a grand slam to pad the lead. After the grand slam, Wings manager Mike Quade was ejected by home plate umpire Jeremie Rehak.

Park hit his second homer of the season in the bottom of the 10th inning off Neil Wagner, making the score 9-5.

NOTES:
The Red Wings out-hit the Bulls 15-10, and left 11 men on base…Wings pitchers struck out 17 in the game, and all but one of the nine Durham runs were unearned… The Wings fell to 4-6 in extra-inning games.