The Rochester Red Wings pounded out 15 hits in a 12-3 win over the Columbus Clippers Wednesday afternoon at Frontier Field. The Red Wings begin a series against the Norfolk Tides Thursday at 7:05 pm featuring Plates night.
Red Wings starter Hector Santiago was making a rehab start from the Twins, and he ran into trouble in the top of the first inning after back-to-back walks and an RBI single gave Columbus an early 1-0 lead.
Rochester quickly answered when Daniel Palka hit a solo home run off Clippers starter Shawn Morimando in the bottom of the first inning, his eleventh of the season, tying the game at 1-1.
A bases loaded, two-RBI single by Tommy Field gave Rochester a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the third inning.
After leading off the bottom of the fourth inning with a triple, Engelb Vielma scored on an infield single by Palka, extending Rochester’s lead to 4-1. ByungHo Park added an RBI single later in the inning to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
Columbus cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth inning after a walk and a two-run home run brought the Clippers to within two at 5-3.
Alex Wimmers relieved Santiago following the home run. The Red Wings starter finished with 4.1 innings pitched, allowing three earned runs on two hits, six walks and four strikeouts. He threw 98 pitches – 52 for strikes.
A bases-clearing, three-RBI double by Matt Hague gave Rochester a five-run advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning. The hit improved Rochester’s team batting average with the bases loaded to an impressive .345 on the season. Niko Goodrum contributed an RBI single of his own in the inning, making the score 9-3 in favor of Rochester. Palka was ejected by home plate umpire Shane Livensparger following a call made at first base.
Morimando was replaced with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. He finished with 4.1 innings of work, giving up eight earned runs on nine hits, six walks and three strikeouts. He threw 97 pitches – 56 for strikes.
The Red Wings added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Goodrum and a fielder’s choice by Park, extending the Rochester lead to 11-3.
Mason Melotakis came in for Wimmers to begin the top of the eighth inning. Wimmers allowed only one hit and struck out six in 2.2 innings of work. Melotakis added two scoreless innings.
