Red Wings hang on to win first postseason game in over a decade
By: Elias Vega-Diaz/Sports Writer
MEMPHIS, T.N. -- Until this year, the last time the Rochester Red Wings set foot on a playoff field, one would have to look back to 2013, in their International League series against the then-Pawtucket Red Sox, where they lost three games to two in the opening round of the MiLB playoffs. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the International League second-half winner Red Wings took on the first-half winner Memphis Redbirds on the road at AutoZone Park for their first playoff game in 13 years.
On the mound for Rochester would be lefty Matt Krook with a 3.99 ERA in 47 1/3 innings pitched, totaling 63 strikeouts on the season. Taking the ball for Memphis would be the ambidextrous Jurrangelo Cijntje, sporting a 4.87 ERA in 133 innings pitched while tallying 163 strikeouts this season.
Rochester would strike first, going up 1-0 in the top of the first. Seaver King would start the inning with a leadoff single, followed by a Trey Lipscomb double to put runners on third and second. On a 2-1 count, catcher Riley Adams would sky a sac fly to center, allowing King to run in to plate the Red Wings' first playoff run since Sept. 2013.
Memphis would strike back in the bottom of the second to level the score 1-1. Outfielder Zach Levenson would mash a 2-2 sweeper inside 379 feet, dropping just over the left-field scoreboard wall.
Shortstop Seaver King would snap the tie in the top of the fourth to edge the Red Wings 2-1. King would lift a first-pitch slider inside over the left-center bullpen wall for a leadoff home run to start the inning.
The tie-breaking shot would be King's 22nd of the season, who has hit a slash line of .308/.382/.898. Out of all of his home runs, 14 of them have been hit with no one occupying the basepaths.
Rochester would pour on more runs in the top of the sixth to add to their lead, 4-1. Red Wings outfielder Leandro Pineda would drive a leadoff double to get on base and get driven home off another double, this time from outfielder Andrew Pinckney. Pinckney would move to third on a single by outfielder Sam Peterson, setting up Maxwell Romero Jr. to sky Rochester's second RBI sac fly of the game, allowing Pinckney to plate home for another score.
Pinckney's double would serve as his 101st hit of the season after finishing his regular season hitting .270/.374/.784. Out of his total of 57 RBI this season, 40 of them have been notched with runners in scoring position.
The Redbirds would fight back in the bottom of the frame, chipping away at Rochester's lead to 4-2. Down in the count 2-1, Catcher Jimmy Crooks would send a slider 431 feet to right-center for a leadoff home run to tie the score.
Memphis chipped once more at the lead to make it a 4-3 ballgame. After a single from first baseman Trey Page and a walk from shortstop Brody Moore, Crooks delivered an RBI single to left field to bring the Redbirds within reach of a tie. However, Rochester hung on to seal the ballgame and notch their first postseason win in over a decade.
Getting the win on the mound would be Rochester's Joe Glassey, who pitched two innings with a strikeout and a walk. Cijntje earned the loss after pitching six innings, giving up eight hits and four earned runs over six punch-outs. Red Wings righty Kyle Nicholas earned the save for Rochester after closing the game with 1 1/3 innings pitched and three strikeouts.
Rochester now goes up 1-0 in the series and will play game two of the International League Championship Series tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 7:45 pm at AutoZone Park in Memphis.
This article will be updated as more information comes out.
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