Jon Kemmer collects 3 hits for Rochester in the 2-1 loss.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Jon Kemmer picked up 3 of the Rochester Red Wings 6 hits Monday in a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Clippers in front of over 11,000 fans at Huntington Park.
Rochester (53-65) grabbed the early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Juan Graterol lifted a sacrifice fly to score Kemmer.
Columbus tied the game at one in the fifth and moved ahead in the sixth off Wings starter Chase De Jong.
De Jong (0-2) – making his third start with Rochester since being acquired from Seattle for Zach Duke – went 5.2 innings, allowing both runs on 5 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 5 batters.
Clippers pitcher Josh Tomlin made the rehab start for Columbus allowing just 1 run over 4 innings.
The Wings got the tying run to third base with 2 outs in the ninth inning, but Andy Wilkins struck out to end the game.
Nick Anderson relieved De Jong and kept the Red Wings in the game tossing 2.1 scoreless innings.
The Wings and Clippers play Game 2 of the 3-game series Tuesday night. Rochester sends lefty Stephen Gonsalves (8-3, 3.15) to the mound opposite southpaw Ryan Merritt (1-1, 5.05).
*NOTES — Chris Bostick, who was designated by the Pittsburgh Pirates for assignment on Aug. 7, was acquired by the Miami Marlins on Aug. 12 for cash considerations. The Gates native and Aquinas grad plays the outfield and second base and started the season with the Pirates Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The Oakland Athletics selected Bostick in the 44th round, with the 1,366th overall selection, of the 2011 MLB draft…Rochester is 31-28 on the road this season, 1 of 5 teams with 30 roads wins in the International League this year. The Red Wings are just 22-36 at home (that total does not count going 1-1 as the road team). Rochester lost nine home games in a row from game one on May 27-June 10, the longest home losing streak since June 14-28, 1984. The Wings had been at least six games over .500 at home each season since 2012 while going 254-177 (.589) entering 2018. The Red Wings will finish this season under .500 at home for the first time since going 32-40 at Frontier Field in 2011… The Red Wings are second in the International League with a 3.51 ERA. Pawtucket leads the league at 3.41. A Rochester team has not led the league in ERA since the 1976 squad posted a 3.51 mark.