STAFF REPORTS
The Rochester Red Wings edged the Norfolk Tides 3-2 Saturday night at Frontier Field. The series and homestand concludes Sunday at 1:35 p.m. with Birdzerk! performing during the game, and the “Wings of Hope” jersey and cap auction.
Norfolk wasted no time in taking the lead in the top of the first, when a Pedro Alvarez single off of Aaron Slegers gave the Tides an early 1-0 lead.
Rochester looked to bounce back in the bottom half of the inning when Mitch Garver reached on an error with two outs off Mike Wright. Garver has now reached base safely in 10 straight games dating back to Aug. 1. Kennys Vargas singled to give the Red Wings runners on first and second, but both were left stranded after a groundout.
In the bottom of the third, the Red Wings led the inning off with back-to-back singles by Zack Granite and Daniel Palka, giving Rochester runners on first and second with nobody out. With his single, Palka extended his hitting streak to eight games since Aug. 5. A double play and strikeout however left Rochester continuing to trail by one.
The Red Wings started the bottom of the fourth with a runner on after a Matt Hague walk. In the next at bat, ByungHo Park delivered a two-run home run to deep left for his 10th of the season, giving Rochester their first lead of the game, 2-1.
Garver helped add on to the Rochester lead in the bottom of the fifth with two outs, when he sent a ball an estimated 412 ft. for his 17th home run of the season, giving Rochester a 3-1 lead.
After the Garver home run, Wright was pulled after 4.2 innings of work. In his 4.2 innings on the mound, he allowed six hits and three runs (all earned), while walking two and striking out two on 83 pitches, 53 for strikes. Former Wing Jason Wheeler relieved Wright.
The Tides cut into the Rochester lead in the top of the sixth when an Alvarez sacrifice fly brought the score back to a one-run game, 3-2.
Slegers pitched 7.1 innings for Rochester before being replaced by Mason Melotakis. In his 7.1 innings, Slegers allowed eight hits and two earned runs while striking out six on 104 pitches, 72 for strikes. He now leads the league with 13 wins. Melotakis picked up his first Triple-A save.
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