Wilin Rosario’s 2-run single secures the victory over the Bisons.
By Nick Sciarratta and Chad Raychel / Rochester Red Wings
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings managed just five hits Tuesday night, one day after being no-hit by the Buffalo Bisons. Tuesday’s result was much better, as Wilin Rosario’s eighth inning, two-RBI single capped a late rally to boost the Wings to a 4-1 win over the Bisons at Frontier Field.
The win pulled the fourth place Wings to within a game of third-place Buffalo in the IL North standings, and still within reach of first place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The RailRiders lead second-place Syracuse by 1 game, the Bisons by 2, and the Wings by 3 with 13 games to play.
Buffalo was able to put a run up on the board first against Red Wings starter Devin Smeltzer. Patrick Kivlehan launched a solo home run to left in the top of the second to put the Bisons out in front 1-0.
Smeltzer didn’t give up a run for the rest of his outing and finished with a line of 6.0 innings pitched, five hits, one earned run, one walk, and three strikeouts. He threw 91 pitches, 56 for strikes.
Making his Triple-A debut, Bisons starter Nate Pearson stifled the Red Wings’ bats and held Rochester to just three hits. Drew Maggi made a bid for the team’s first extra-base hit on a sharp line drive towards the left field corner, but was robbed by a sliding, basket-catch by Buffalo left fielder Forrest Wall. Pearson finished his strong outing throwing 7.0 innings, giving up three hits, no runs, and striking out three. 55 of his 88 pitches were for strikes.
Jorge Alcala also made his Triple-A debut and came on in relief for Rochester to begin the seventh. He threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and made an impressive unassisted putout at first base on a ground ball to the first base side of the mound.
Rochester finally reached the scoreboard in the top of the eighth. Zander Wiel extended his on-base streak to nine games with a walk, followed by a single by Ronald Torreyes in the next at bat. After a strikeout, Ian Miller reached base with a walk, and with the bases loaded, Drew Maggi drew another walk to bring in the tying run. Buffalo made a pitching change and brought in Kirby Snead.
The very first pitch Snead threw was a passed ball that advanced the runners and brought Torreyes in from third to give the Red Wings their first lead of the game. Ramon Flores drew the team’s third straight walk in the next at to load the bases for Rosario who crushed a line drive into center filed, bringing in Miller and Maggi to extend the Red Wings lead to 4-1.
Trevor Hildenberger came on to pitch the ninth inning and made his first appearance since being placed on the Injured List on 6/17. He allowed a walk but did not allow a hit to pick up the save.
Each team had five hits. Alcala got the win in his Triple-A and Frontier Field debut.
*NOTES — RHP Trevor Hildenberger was returned from his rehab assignment and reinstated from the Injured List on Tuesday…RHP Griffin Jax was transferred to Double-A Pensacola…INF Brian Schales was reinstated from the Temporary Inactive List and transferred to Single-A Ft. Myers…The teams meet again Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.,, the final $1 Wednesday, with $1 Zweigle’s hot dogs, peanuts, chips, and Cracker Jack – and Food Week continues, with unique food specials this week.