STAFF REPORTS
ROCHESTER — The Rochester Red Wings scored eight runs in the first inning in a 13-5 win over the Columbus Clippers Friday night at Frontier Field. The series continues with 1:05 p.m. games Saturday and Sunday.
Red Wings lefty Adlaberto Mejia got the start, but the Clippers wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. After Mejia issued a leadoff walk to Greg Allen, Yandy Diaz doubled to the right-centerfield gap, scoring Allen from first to give Columbus a 1-0 lead. After Giovanny Urshela singled to put men on the corners, Eric Haas hit a three-run home run to put Columbus ahead 4-0.
Rochester came right back to take the lead against Clipperds starter Stephen Fife, as the first 11 hitters sent to the plate found their way on base. The Wings loaded the bases after a pair of hits by Leonardo Reginatto and Jake Cave, with Kennys Vargas reaching first after being hit by a pitch. Brock Stassi jumped on the first pitch of his at-bat, blasting a grand slam onto the roof of the Nest picnic pavilion in right field to the score at 4-4. Taylor Featherston then hit a home run of his own over the left-centerfield fence, giving the Wings a 5-4 lead on back-to-back shots. After a pair of singles by James Ramsey and Willians Astudillo, Gregorio Petit lined a hit just fair into the right field corner which scored Ramsey from second, extending the lead to 6-4. Astudillo scored on a bases loaded walk, giving the Wings a 7-4 lead. Fife’s night ended , going 0.1 innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits and two walks. Fife threw 37 pitches, 21 for strikes. A sacrifice fly by Cave ended the high scoring inning, leaving Rochester with an 8-4 lead.
Astudillo added to the Rochester power surge in the bottom half of the third inning with a towering solo shot into the Columbus bullpen, giving the Wings their third long ball of the night along with a 9-4 lead.
The Red Wings struck again in the fourth inning after working three straight walks, followed by a dropped fly ball, giving the Wings a 11-4 lead. With the bases loaded, Petit singled back up the middle to score both Featherston and Ramsey, giving the Wings a 13-4 lead.
Mejia settled in to toss 4.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, issuing two walks while striking out five. Mejia threw 78 pitches, 48 for strikes.
Tyler Duffey tossed 3.0 scoreless relief innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out four. Duffey now has 14 strikeouts with just one walk in 11.0 innings pitched this season.
John Curtiss took over to start the eighth inning, and allowed a home run to Nellie Rodriguez to make the score 13-5. Curtiss struck out the side in the inning, then set down the side in order in the ninth inning.
The Red Wings out-hit the Clippers 11-8.
Winning Pitcher: Duffey (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: Fife (0-2)
Save: none
Box Score – Click here for the box score and play-by-play narrative.
Losing Pitcher: Fife (0-2)
Save: none
Box Score – Click here for the box score and play-by-play narrative.
NOTES: RHP Jake Reed (right shoulder impingement syndrome) was placed on the disabled list Friday…The Wings’ eight-run first inning exceeded their run total in any of their previous nine games of the season.
