Blankenhorn and Adams smash back-to-back homers for Rochester.
By Caktus AI / Rochester Red Wings
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings couldn’t muster enough offense to overcome the Omaha Storm Chasers and fell, 8-4, dropping their second-straight game. LF Travis Blankenhorn and 1B Matt Adams became the first Wings since 5/31 to collect back-to-back home runs, but it proved too little against the Storm Chasers after six Rochester pitchers worked against Omaha Thursday night.
The Red Wings struck first, jumping out to a 2-0 lead when DH Franmil Reyes smacked a 427-foot home run. The knock registered 109.9 MPH off Reyes’ bat, which ranks as the third-hardest home run by a Rochester batter this season. After going scoreless for the first three innings, Omaha responded in the top of the fourth inning and took a 4-2 lead when SS Adeiny Hechavarria hit a 411-foot grand slam.
Rochester waited no time and smacked back-to-back home runs for just the second time this season to lead off the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 4-4. First, Travis Blankenhorn smashed a 350-foot shot to right field, his fourth homer of the month. Then, Matt Adams crushed his 10th home run of the season over the right field fence, marking the second time this season that the Wings collected back-to-back home runs.
“I feel like I’ve been putting some good swings on the ball. It feels good to see one go over the fence, especially after Travis hit his,” 1B Matt Adams said. “I’m just trying to be on time and swing at good pitches.”
The Storm Chasers retook the lead in the top of the sixth inning when a wild pitch allowed RF Nate Eaton to score. They padded their lead in the top of the seventh inning after DH Brewer Hicklen plated LF Tucker Bradley with an RBI single to extend the Storm Chasers’ lead to 6-4. C Logan Porter knocked in another run with an RBI single, plating Hicklen to extend the lead to 7-4.
Omaha scored a final run in the top of the ninth inning when CF Kyle Isbel drove in Bradley on an RBI single, giving the Storm Chasers an 8-4 advantage. The Wings couldn’t respond, managing just two runners into scoring position over the final five innings, and fell for the second straight night to Omaha.
“Offensively, we were good early. At the end, they threw some good arms at us that we really couldn’t make adjustments against,” manager Matt LeCroy said. “We match up pretty well against this team. We just got to execute better.”
RHP Jose Ureña started for Rochester, working just two innings before coming out with an injury. He allowed one hit and struck out one Omaha batter through the scoreless appearance. RHP Tommy Romero came in to start the third inning and worked two innings, allowing four runs while striking out three batters. Four relievers worked the final five innings, allowing one run, five hits, and two walks while striking out eight batters. RHP Odalvi Javier (0-1, 9.22) was tabbed with the loss, while RHP Jonathan Bowlan earned the win.
DH Franmil Reyes earned Thursday night’s Diamond Pro Player of the Game honors after he went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in the loss. Reyes’ homer was the third-hardest hit home run by a Rochester batter this season and traveled 424 feet. He now has three home runs, 12 RBI and 12 walks since joining the Wings on 5/19.
The Red Wings will look to snap their two-game skid against Omaha tomorrow night, with RHP Joan Adon taking the mound against the Storm Chaser’s LHP Anthony Veneziano. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m.