Ben Paulsen stays hot for the Red Wings. Nick Gordon gets it going for the Lookouts. Alex Schick leads the Kernels to a win. The Miracle take the only organization loss.
ROCHESTER 6, SYRACUSE 2 IN SYRACUSE (GAME 1--7 INNINGS)
A four-run sixth turned a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead and an eventual 6-2 Red Wings win. Once again it was Mitch Garver and Ben Paulsen doing the damage. Garver's RBI single tied it 2-2 and later in the inning, Paulsen hit a three-run homer (his second) to give Rochester a 5-2 lead. They added a run in the seventh on a run-scoring double by Kennys Vargas. The Chiefs scored single runs in the first and second but did not get a man past first base after that.
Nick Tepesch pitched five innings, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Trevor Hildenberger struck out four in two shutout innings, giving up two hits. Vargas and Tommy Field were each 2-for-4 with a double, with Vargas getting two RBIs. Garver was 1-for-2 with two walks.
ROCHESTER 10, SYRACUSE 4 IN SYRACUSE (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)
Ben Paulsen struck again, but this time he had help from Daniel Palka as the Red Wings cruised to a sweep. It was actually Niko Goodrum who put Rochester ahead to stay with a fourth inning home run to make it 2-1. In the fifth, Palka hit a two-run homer followed by Paulsen's solo shot to give the Red Wings a 5-1 lead. A five-run sixth put the game away, with Palka again hitting a two-run homer.
Drew Rucinski started and pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits and no walks while striking out five. Alan Busenitz struck out three in two perfect innings of relief. Palka was 2-for-4 and Paulsen was 2-for-3. Tommy Field and Byungho Park were each 2-for-4 with a double. Matt Hague was also 2-for-4.
CHATTANOOGA 5, MOBILE 4 IN CHATTANOOGA (11 INNINGS),/h4>
The Lookouts led 4-2 after four, but the BayBears scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to send it to extra innings. Edgar Corcino led off the eleventh with a single and was wild pitched to second with two out. Walks to Jonathan Rodriguez and LaMonte Wade loaded the bases and a walkoff walk to Dan Rohlfing brought home the winning run.
Felix Jorge started but pitched only four innings, giving up two runs on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts. He threw 71 pitches, so one assumes he was on a pitch count. Todd Van Steensel led the bullpen with two shutout innings of relief, as the Lookouts used five relief pitchers. Nick Gordon led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Corcino was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
JUPITER 3, FORT MYERS 2 IN FORT MYERS
Jupiter took the lead to stay in the fifth, scoring on a bases-loaded walk and a ground out to go up 2-0. It was 3-1 going to the bottom of the ninth. Sean Miller singled home a run to cut the lead to 3-2 with two out, but Nelson Molina grounded out to end the game.
Keaton Steele pitched five innings, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Randy Rosario struck out three in two shutout innings of relief, giving up two hits. Daniel Kihle was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Miller was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.
CEDAR RAPIDS 6, BELOIT 1 IN CEDAR RAPIDS
Doubles by MItchell Kranson and Ben Rortvedt put the Kernels up 2-1 in the second and they led the rest of the way. A two-run single by Kranson in the seventh sealed the deal.
Alex Schick took care of most of the pitching, striking out seven in seven innings while giving up just one run on six hits and two walks. Max Cordy struck out the side in the eighth and Alex Robinson pitched a scoreless ninth. Travis Blankenhorn was 3-for-4 with a home run, his second. Brandon Lopez was also 3-for-4 and Jermaine Palacios was 3-for-5 a triple. Kranson was 2-for-4.
TODAY'S TILTS
12:05 Rochester (Jason Wheeler) at Buffalo (T. J. House)
6:00 Fort Myers at Tampa (Zack Littell)
6:15 Mobile (Alex Blackford) at Chattanooga (Paul Clemens)
6:30 Cedar Rapids (Clark Bleeker) at Kane County (Ryan Atkinson)