The Alexandria Beetles performed a comedy of errors Monday night at Mayo Field, but Rochester Honkers manager Zach Etheredge wasn't laughing.
Alexandria committed eight errors and Rochester capitalized with nine unearned runs in an 11-1 win, the Honkers' second straight, and fourth in a row over the Beetles.
"It was a tough night for them that's for sure," Etheredge acknowledged, "but we've been there.
"They've got a good group and a good coaching staff, and it's important that we respect their guys and respect the game. All glory is fleeting; tomorrow it could be us that plays like that."
Rochester (11-15) scored six runs in the second inning, the first three without the benefit of a base hit, and that was all the support that Honkers starting pitcher Jared Miller (Vanderbilt) would require.
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Rochester sent 10 batters to the plate in the second against Alexandria starter Steve Weber (Eastern Michigan), with two walks, two errors and three hits, including a two-run double by Justin Parr (Illinois) and a run-scoring single by Trevor Podratz (Hawaii).
Miller and relief pitcher Jordan Milbrath (Augustan) combined for a two-hitter for Rochester. Miller lasted six full innings in his second start for the Honkers, allowing one hit and one earned run with three walks and nine strikeouts.
Miller pitched in 20 games at Vanderbilt as a true freshman, mostly in relief appearances, and he finished his first college season with a 3.70 ERA. Now he has a 0.90 ERA after 10 innings with the Honkers.
"Miller pitched to the strike zone and got ahead of batters in the count," Etheredge noted. "A guy that tall, I think he's got some pretty tough angles with his pitches.
"Jared is a good guy in the dugout for us, too."
Milbrath had his best outing in his third relief appearance for Rochester, allowing just one hit and no runs with five strikeouts in three innings for his first save. The 6-foot-6 right-hander chopped his ERA nearly in half, down to 9.45.
After scoring five unearned runs in the second, Rochester added unearned runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Brandon Defazio (San Mateo) smacked a two-run homer in the seventh, right after Alexandria right-fielder Ryan Padilla (New Mexico) dropped a fly ball for what should have been the third out.
It was Padilla's third error in the game, and Defazio's second homer in just six games since joining the Honkers.
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The Beetles and Honkers play a 1:05 p.m. matinee game today at Mayo Field. It's Rochester's final home game of the first half of the 70-game season.
The Honkers close the first half with eight road games, part of a season-long 10-game road trip to St. Cloud, Thunder Bay, Ont., and Duluth. The second half of the season begins July 5.
