The Bulls homer in the 9th to beat Rochester, 1-0.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Durham Bulls used a ninth inning home run to beat the Rochester Red Wings 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Frontier Field. The series and homestand concludes Sunday at 1:05 pm; moms can play catch with their kids after the game.
Red Wings starter Devin Smeltzer cruised through the top of the first, recording two strikeouts in his second Triple-A start and Frontier Field debut.
In the bottom of the first, Rochester gained their first runner of the game off Bulls starter Oliver Drake on a leadoff single by Nick Gordon. Miguel Sanó, who is on a major league rehab assignment, flew out to right field. Gordon was caught stealing at second and LaMonte Wade Jr struck out swinging, ending the scoring opportunity.
Smeltzer continued to deal in the top of the second, throwing his third and fourth strikeouts of the afternoon.
Durham stranded a runner on third base in the top of the third, as Smeltzer recorded three straight outs to end the threat.
The Bulls made a call to the bullpen with one out in the bottom of the third, bringing in Cole Sulser. Drake finished with 2.1 innings pitched, giving up one hit. He struck out four and threw 32 pitches, 20 for strikes.
Rochester had their first scoring opportunity of the afternoon in the bottom of third. John Andreoli and Drew Maggi recorded back-to-back walks with one out. With a runner in scoring position, the Wings could not capitalize, as Sulser struck out Gordon and Sanó to end the inning.
Durham put a runner on base to open the eighth inning against Smeltzer, but Smeltzer set down the next three batters to strand the runner and keep the game scoreless..
Ryan Yarbrough replaced Sulser in the fourth inning, and proceeded to retire the first 13 Wings batters he faced until a one out, eighth inning single by Zander Wiel. A steal by Wiel gave the Wings a runner in scoring position for just the second time all day. Yarbrough struck out Andreoli for the second out, and a groundout by Maggi ended the threat and sent the game to the ninth inning.
Smeltzer was outstanding on the mound, working eighth scoreless innings. He gave up four hits, walked one, and struck out six while throwing 100 pitches – 68 for strikes.
Austin Adams took over on the mound to open the ninth inning. Adams had allowed just one run in his past five relief appearances, and set down the first two batters he faced Saturday – before Nick Solak hit an 0-2 pitch just over the wall in right field, putting the Bulls ahead 1-0.
Andrew Kittredge set down the side in the bottom of the ninth to shut out the Wings, who were out-hit 5-2.
*NOTES — Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sanó will rehab with the Rochester Red Wings this weekend. Sanó, who has been on the MLB Injured List all season with a right heel laceration, is scheduled to play Saturday and Sunday at Frontier Field against the Durham Bulls. Both games begin at 1:05 pm. He is batting .320/.367/.640 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 8 RBI, and 2 runs scored in 7 rehab games so far with Double-A Pensacola and Single-A Ft. Myers. Rochester is home through Sunday before opening a 6-game road trip at Charlotte on Tuesday…The Twins announced the following roster moves: RHP Kohl Stewart and RHP Tyler Duffey were recalled by Minnesota…John Andreoli’s on-base streak is now 16 after walking in the third inning…Drew Maggi’s on-base streak is now 13 games after his third inning walk..Zander Wiel improved his hitting streak to 6 games.