It took 12 innings, but the Rochester Red Wings picked up their second win of the season with an 8-5 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens on Thursday night at Fifth Third Field.
Rochester was trailing 5-3 in the ninth and were down to their final strike until Nick Banks ripped a two-run single to center to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
With a runner on second base and no outs in the top of the 10th, Donovan Casey smacked a RBI triple to right to give the Red Wings a 4-3 lead. Adrian Sanchez followed that with a RBI single to center to make it 5-3.
Toledo responded in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs to tie the game and send it to the 11th inning. However, no runs were scored in the 11th.
With one out in the 12th, Sanchez put Rochester in the lead once again with a RBI single to center. One batter later, Garcia also lined a RBI single to center. Then, Jake Noll drilled one off the wall in center for a RBI triple, giving the Red Wings a commanding 8-5 lead over the Mud Hens.
Carson Teel came out to pitch for Rochester for the third consecutive inning and recorded the final three outs to earn the save.
Toledo broke the scoreless tie in the third after Ryan Lavarnway scored on a fielding error by Andrew Stevenson. One batter later, Kody Clemens crushed a two-run home run over the wall in right-center to expand the Mud Hens lead to 3-0.
Garcia put Rochester on the board in the sixth with a solo home run to center.
Washington’s top prospect Cade Cavalli started started for the Wings and allowed three runs on four hits over four innings.
Erasmo Ramirez, Tyler Clippard, Hunter Harvey and Sam Clay each recorded scoreless appearances for the Red Wings.
The two teams will continue their six-game series on Friday night. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].