BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, NY – After so many games delayed or canceled due to weather, the Rochester Red Wings were likely glad that rain stopped falling from the sky in time for Tuesday’s game. The problem is that instead of water coming from the sky, it was home runs off the bats of the Syracuse Mets, who hit four round-trippers on Tuesday night in a 13-5 victory that sent the Red Wings back to .500 (12 -12).
Syracuse’s four home runs were the most by an opposing team at Innovative Field since the Lehigh Valley IronPigs hit six on August 10, 2023.
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The first of those home runs, a hard-hit three-run shot launched over the right field fence by Yolmer Sanchez in the top of the fourth, tied the game 4-4 against Wings pitching prospect Jackson Rutledge. The second, a no-doubt 401-foot blast to left by 2015 All-Star Jose Iglesias with no outs in the sixth, he gave Syracuse the lead. The third, another two-run round-tripper by Iglesias, came an inning later to extend their lead to 8-4, the second of six consecutive hits in an inning that ended with another home run (from Rylan Bannon) to truly put the game out of reach.
“The game got away from us,” said Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy post-game. “They took advantage of our mistakes, of walks, and an error that we had. They made us pay.”
“It’s a tough game, and we gotta bounce back tomorrow.”
Before Sanchez’s fourth-inning blast began the home run barrage, things had gone well for the Red Wings. Although Syracuse grabbed an early lead with an RBI single from Luke Ritter in the top of the first, the Wings soon tied it 1-1 on a Juan Yepez double. An inning later, the Red Wings scored three to move ahead 4-1 after Darren Baker, Victor Roblesand James Wood got RBI hits in quick succession.
Robles’ hit, a triple that got past Syracuse right-fielder Trayce Thompson, was notable for what it suggested. The 26-year-old outfielder from the Dominican is in Rochester to rehab from a hamstring issue, and he showed no lasting effect of the injury as he shipped into third. Robles played five innings before being pulled according to a plan by the Washington Nationals, but he will increase his play as his rehab continues.
On the mound, Rutledge went five innings, allowing three hits and three walks while allowing three earned runs and striking out four. It was Rutledge’s first outing of more than two innings since March 31, when he also went five innings. Since then, he’s been constantly stressed by weather, injuries, and bad luck.
“He’s had some tough circumstances,” said LeCroy. “He’s had rain, he got hit by a ball, he had a bad back, we got rain when he was supposed to pitch Sunday.”
His major mistake came in the fourth. After getting the first batter out, Iglesias reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jackson Cluff. Rutledge walked the following beat, Carlos Cortes, and then gave up the game-tying home run to Yolmer Sanchez. While Rutledge recovered with a one-two-three fifth, the Mets broke open the game in the sixth and seventh, scoring nine off the bullpen.
“[Rutledge] did well,” said LeCroy. “But he didn’t bounce back from the mistake.”
“He kept the game tied, but we just didn’t get past the sixth and seventh innings.”
The two teams continue their series on Wednesday, May 1, at 6:05 PM Rochester right-hander Spenser Watkins (1-0, 6.11) is set to face Syracuse’s left-handed starter Joey Lucchesi (2-1, 2.42).
