STAFF REPORTS
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Norfolk Tides defeated the Rochester Red Wings 5-3 Saturday night in front of a Frontier Field crowd of 11,024. The homestand wraps up with a 1:05 p.m. game Sunday afternoon.
The Tides put pressure on the Red Wings early, as Rochester starter Fernando Romero allowed two walks and a single to the first three batters. A bases loaded fielder’s choice from Pedro Alvarez gave Norfolk a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Luis Sardinas cleared the bases on a two-RBI double to extend the lead to 3-0.
In the top of the seventh, the Tides gave starting pitcher David Hess more room to work with after a sacrifice fly from Ruben Tejada handed Norfolk a 4-0 lead. The Tides added a single run in the top of the eighth to take a 5-0 lead, prompting Romero’s exit from the contest. Romero pitched 7.2 innings, allowing seven hits, five earned runs and three walks with three strikeouts. Romero threw 96 pitches, 61 for strikes. Tyler Duffey relieved Romero and worked around a walk before getting the third out of the inning.
Hess was outstanding, giving up just two hits over 7.0 shutout innings. He walked five, struck out nine, and threw 104 pitches – 65 for strikes.Former Red Wing Tim Melville came on to work the eighth inning for Norfolk.
In the bottom of the eighth, Rochester managed to put a few runs on the scoreboard. After back-to-back singles from Jon Kemmer and Jordan Pacheco, Gregorio Petit brought in Kemmer with an RBI single to make the score 5-1. The following batter, Nick Gordon, drove in Pacheco on an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-2. After Petit advanced to third on a wild pitch, Miguel Sano brought him in to score on a groundout, making the score 5-3.
Sano finished the game 0-for-3 with a walk, RBI and a strikeout in first game since being transferred from Class A Fort Myers.
Winning pitcher: Hess (3-2)
Losing pitcher: Romero (2-2)
Save: Faulkner (2)
Losing pitcher: Romero (2-2)
Save: Faulkner (2)
Box Score: Click here for the box score and play-by-play narrative.
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