The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute from the penalty spot following a clumsy challenge by Peter Cavanagh on David Clarkson, who duly punished the hosts by rifling home the spot kick.
Rovers keeper Neil Ethridge did his best to keep Rochdale at bay as the home side responded positively to conceding with Phil Edwards, Andrew Tutte and Terry Gornell all frustrated by the Pirates stopper.
But the hosts deservedly levelled in the 27th minute when Jason Kennedy's corner was dummied by Phil Edwards and lashed home by Tutte.
Gornell forced another fine save out of Ethridge before the interval and Rochdale continued to press after the break. Kennedy shot over from an angle before Bobby Grant fired them ahead, his curling shot taking a deflection off Rovers' substitute Fabien Broghammer to lift it over Ethridge and into the net.
If that left the visitors deflated, they were sunk further by Gary Kenneth's dismissal midway through the second half for a second bookable offence. By the time substitute Elliott Richard was shown a straight red card for an X-rated challenge on Ashley Grimes, the game was up for Rovers.
