Rochester falls out of first by half a game as Buffalo defeats Lehigh Valley.
By NIck Grasso / Rochester Red Wings
MOOSIC, PA. — The Rochester Red Wings tied the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in hits in Saturday evening’s game but were shutout, 3-0, as Scranton took a 3-2 series lead.
The loss dropped Rochester from first place in the IL East by half a game following the Buffalo Bisons 3-2 victory over Lehigh Valley.
C Taylor Gushue provided the only shred of offense for the Wings with a double in the second inning but failed to reach home plate.
Scranton’s Jake Bauer singled in the fourth on a line drive to Wings LF Andrew Stevenson and registered an RBI thanks to quick baserunning from Tim Locastro, as the Railriders took a 1-0 lead. The Wings hung around until a pair of Scranton runs in the eighth put the game away.
In his first Triple-A start, LHP Carson Teel struck out seven batters and allowed just two hits and one run in four innings, but Rochester’s offense failed to capitalize on his efficient outing. RHP Matt Brill, LHP Luis Avilan each pitched an inning, giving up just one hit and collecting a pair of strikeouts each. LHP Alberto Baldonado threw a pair of wild pitches in the eighth that scored two runs for the Railriders.
Saturday’s shutout was the fourth the Wings have suffered this season, and their second in Scranton. They lost 7-0 on June 14.
Rochester will have a chance to even the series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at PNC Park.