The Rochester Red Wings' bid to clinch a spot in the Triple-A National Championship Game will have to wait another day.
Memphis erupted for 15 runs over a three-inning stretch and evened the Triple-A International League Championship Series with a 15-4 victory over Rochester on Wednesday night at AutoZone Park. The best-of-three series is now tied 1-1.
The deciding Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at 7:45 p.m. ET in Memphis. The winner will advance to the Triple-A National Championship Game on Sept. 26 at Las Vegas Ballpark against the Pacific Coast League champion.
Memphis breaks it open early
The Redbirds grabbed the lead in the second inning when Brody Moore singled home Zach Levenson before Jimmy Crooks launched a three-run homer to right-center field, scoring Moore and
Colton Ledbetter for a 4-0 advantage.
Memphis put the game out of reach with a nine-run third inning.
Trey Paige delivered a two-run single that scored Chase Davis and Noah Mendlinger to make it 6-0. Later in the inning, Crooks added a two-run single, Davis contributed a two-run hit and Levenson followed with an RBI double. Mendlinger and Paige capped the rally with RBI singles as Memphis surged to a 13-0 lead.
The Redbirds added two more runs in the fourth on Bligh Madris' two-run homer, extending the margin to 15-0.
Red Wing bats wake up late
The Red Wings were held to two hits through the first seven innings by Memphis starter Mason Molina and reliever Austin Love.
Rochester finally broke through in the eighth. Maxwell Romero Jr. scored on a bases-loaded walk to Cayden Wallace before Leandro Pineda lined a two-run single to right, bringing home Liover Peguero and Johnathon Thomas.
The Red Wings added one more run in the ninth. Sam Petersen singled and advanced on a wild pitch. After Kyle Hayes struck out, Cortland Lawson drove in Petersen with a single , accounting for Rochester's final run.
Crooks powers 15-hit attack
Memphis finished with 15 runs on 15 hits and was led by Crooks, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBIs. Paige added two hits and three RBIs, while Madris homered and drove in two runs. Moore collected three hits and scored once.
The Redbirds went 10-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
For Rochester, Pineda collected two hits and two RBIs as the Red Wings finished with six hits.
Pitching matchup turns early
Rochester starter Isaac Lyon took the loss after allowing eight runs, five earned, on six hits in 2⅓ innings. Jared Simpson surrendered five runs in one-third of an inning before Paxton Schultz allowed two runs over 1⅓ innings. Ben Grable threw a scoreless inning and Andry Lara followed with three scoreless innings of relief.
Molina earned the win for Memphis after tossing five scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out six.
Next up
Rochester and Memphis meet Thursday at 7:45 p.m. ET in the decisive third game of the International League Championship Series. The winner advances to the Triple-A National Championship Game on Sept. 26 in Las Vegas.
Information gathered from milb.com.
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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Red Wings routed by Redbirds, setting up winner-take-all finale in Memphis
