Jordany Valdespin homers to extend his hit streak in the loss.
UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Skole hit two, two-run homers as the Charlotte Knights beat the Red Wings, 7-3, Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte.
Jordany Valdespin hit a go-ahead sixth inning homer for the Wings that gave Rochester a brief 3-2 lead.
After the Valdespin homer, the Wings had a chance to pile on as they loaded the bases with one out. But, the Knights called on Matt Tomshaw who promptly came in and induced a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play off the bat of Jake Cave. Cave hit the ball hard, but sure-handed, veteran infielder Ryan Goins picked it smoothly to start the rally-ending twin killing.
With the momentum shifted, Skole cranked a Jake Reed offering way out to right for what turned out to be the game-winning 2-run homer.
The Knights (20-17) added 3 insurance runs off Gabriel Moya in the eighth.
Skole – who’s hit four home runs in the series – gave Charlotte a first inning lead with a 2-run homer off opener Addison Reed.
The Wings (14-21) answered right back in the top of the second. Wilin Rosario doubled home Randy Cesar on a drive to deep center and Valdespin followed with an infield single that scored Rosario from second to tie the game.
The knock extended Valdespin’s hit streak to 10 games. Since April 28, the Wings infielder is hitting .513 (20-for-39) with 13 RBI and has nine multi-hit nights over that span.
In a bullpen game, Ryan Eades was the best of the bunch pitching a scoreless second, third and fourth frame for Rochester.
Kohl Stewart (2-2, 4.50) gets the ball for the Wings in the series finale Thursday evening.
*NOTES — The Knights out-homered the Wings, 7-3, in Tuesday’s series opener in the 13-7 Charlotte victory. The Knights blasted a franchise-record 7 home runs and went back-to-back 3 times in their remarkable night at the plate…The Red Wings are treating tickets to Sunday’s home game as rain checks due to cool temperatures and drizzle throughout the game with the Durham Bulls. Fans with tickets dated May 12 may exchange them for any remaining home date in 2019. All exchanges must be made in-person at the Ticket Office…The Minnesota Twins have announced the following roster moves: ADD: INF Luis Arraez transferred from Double-A Pensacola; OF Jake Cave active after being optioned by Minnesota (on May 13); RHP Fernando Romero active after being optioned by Minnesota (on May 12); RHP Kohl Stewart active after being optioned by Minnesota (on May 11); CHANGE: INF Nick Gordon placed on the Injured List with a left adductor strain, retroactive to May 13; and RHP Chase De Jong placed on the Injured List with a left quad strain, retroactive to May 11…Danny Mendick – the Pittsford Mendon and MCC product – led off and played third base for the Knights and went 1-for-4 with a run scored… The Wings have combined for 28 hits in the first two games of the series…Luis Arraez has back-to-back 2-hit games in his first 2 games at Triple-A.