The Rochester Red Wings nearly erased a five-run deficit in the ninth inning, but the tying run was left stranded as the Buffalo Bisons held on for a 9-8 victory Tuesday night at Sahlen Field. The loss left Rochester tied with Indianapolis for first place in the International League second-half standings with five games remaining in the regular season.
Rochester (86-57) scored three times in the ninth and brought the potential winning run to the plate before Buffalo closer Zach Stanifer recorded the final two outs to end a game that featured 23 combined hits and five errors.
Red Wings strike first
The Red Wings jumped ahead with two runs in the opening inning.
Buddy Kennedy drew a walk and scored on Cayden Wallace's RBI double. Wallace later crossed the plate on Riley
Adams' two-out RBI single, giving Rochester a 2-0 lead.
Buffalo answers with four-run second
The Bisons took control in the second inning.
Jay Harry and Lenyn Sosa singled and R.J. Schreck walked to load the bases. Shawn Ross then delivered an RBI single to score Harry and trim Rochester's lead to 2-1. Daz Cameron followed with a ground-ball single through the infield that drove in two runs. A Rochester throwing error on the play allowed another run to score, turning a two-run deficit into a 4-2 Buffalo advantage.
Buffalo extended its lead in the fifth inning.
Yohendrick Piñango reached on a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jay Harry followed with a single, and a series of Rochester throwing errors allowed Piñango to score while Harry advanced to third. The Red Wings prevented further damage, but the Bisons increased their lead to 5-2.
Rochester closes the gap, but Bisons answer
The Red Wings cut the deficit to one in the sixth.
Adams walked, Leandro Pineda doubled and Maxwell Romero Jr. walked to load the bases. Sam Petersen then singled home Adams and Pineda, trimming Buffalo's lead to 5-4.
The Bisons immediately responded in the bottom half.
Nick Goodwin and Ross reached before Rhylan Thomas singled to load the bases. Cameron then ripped a three-run double to center, scoring Goodwin, Ross and Thomas. After a wild pitch moved Cameron to third, Piñango followed with an RBI single to cap a four-run inning and make it 9-4.
Ninth-inning comeback comes up short
Rochester mounted one final charge in the ninth.
Trey Lipscomb opened the inning with his 32nd home run of the season. Wallace followed with a single and Adams doubled, putting runners on second and third. A walk to Pineda loaded the bases before Peguero walked to force home Wallace. Romero's sacrifice fly scored Adams to pull the Red Wings within 9-8.
Buffalo summoned Stanifer, who ended the threat and secured the save with consecutive strikeouts.
By the numbers
- Adams finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored, an RBI and a double.
- Petersen collected three hits and drove in three runs.
- Wallace went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Cameron led Buffalo, going 2-for-5 with five RBIs
- Rochester outhit Buffalo 12-11 but committed three errors.
Information gathered from milb.com.
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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Red Wings rally falls short as playoff race tightens
