Rochester jumped out to an early lead and used two home runs to secure a 6-2 win over Toledo Friday at ESL Ballpark.
The Red Wings did most of their damage against Toledo starter Dylan File, tagging him for six runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. Seaver King and Andrew Pinckney hit home runs off File.
Rochester struck first in the opening inning when King singled and scored on a Brady House sacrifice fly. Abimelec Ortiz came home on a two-out RBI double from Trey Lipscomb to make it 2-0.
Toledo answered in the second. Eduardo Valencia ripped a leadoff double and scored on Corey Julks’ sacrifice fly to center, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Rochester had an immediate response in the bottom half, as Joey Wiemer and Riley Adams reached in front of King, who launched a three-run homer to left-center for a 5-1 cushion.
Pinckney added on one inning later, drilling a solo shot to center in the third for his eighth home run and a 6-1 lead.
The Mud Hens’ last push came in the fourth, when Julks reached on an infield pop that dropped and later scored on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Max Burt to make it 6-2.
Bullpen closed it out for Rochester
Andry Lara worked four innings of two-run ball before turning it over to Jack Sinclair, Erick Mejia, Cole Henry, Luke Young and Zak Kent, who combined for five scoreless frames and just four hits allowed. Sinclair earned the win with a clean fifth, striking out two.
Pinckney (two hits), King (three hits and three RBI) paced a 10-hit Rochester attack
Will the Red Wings make the playoffs?
With the win, Rochester remained one game behind Memphis for the International League lead with just two games left in the first half of the season. Winning the first half would guarantee the Red Wings a place in the International League Championship Series in September. Rochester will continue the series against the Mud Hens on Saturday.
Information gathered from milb.com.
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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester Red Wings stay in playoff race with win vs Toledo Mud Hens
