Brent Rooke’s single in the 8th provides the winning run.
By Nick Sciarratta and Ben Blakely / Rochester Red Wings
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings outlasted the Charlotte Knights, 7-6, Friday evening at Frontier Field, before a crowd of 10,037.
Red Wings starter Kohl Stewart ran into some trouble in the top of the first, giving up back to back singles to start the game. The Knights scored the first run of the evening on a sacrifice fly, making the score 1-0. With runners on second and third, Stewart recorded a strikeout and a pop out to end the inning.
Rochester battled back in the bottom of the first off Charlotte starter Dylan Cease. Luis Arraez started the inning with a double down the left field line. Nick Gordon walked and Willians Astudillo advanced Arraez to third on a flyout to center. Jake Cave ripped an RBI single to right, tying the game 1-1. Five pitches later, Gordon scored on a passed ball to give Rochester a 2-1 lead. Brent Rooker followed with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right center, extending the Wings lead to 3-1.
After a rough first inning, Stewart settled in on the mound, recording a 1-2-3 inning in the second and third.
In the bottom of the third, Rochester extended their lead on an RBI single by Wilin Rosario, making the score 4-1.
Charlotte cut into Rochester’s lead in the top of the fourth on a three-run homer by Seby Zavala, tying the game 4-4.
The Knights gained the lead in the top of the sixth on a single to center, giving Charlotte a 5-4 lead.
Rochester made a call to the bullpen with one out in the inning, bringing in Gabriel Moya. With runners on first and second, Moya shut the door, recording a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning. Stewart gave up seven hits and five earned runs over 5.1 innings. He walked two and struck out four, throwing 98 pitches, 65 for strikes.
Charlotte brought in Matt Foster from the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth. Cease finished with 5.0 innings pitched, giving up seven hits and four earned runs. He walked three and struck out one, throwing 101 pitches, 55 for strikes.
Rochester struck back in the bottom of the sixth. Drew Maggi started the inning with a walk and Arraez recorded a single. Gordon ripped a ball to right that was originally caught by right fielder Jon Jay. The call was overturned to a single, extending Gordon’s hit streak to 12 consecutive games.
After the delay, Astudillo hit an RBI single to right, tying the game 5-5. Cave followed Astudillo’s single with a sacrifice fly to center, plating Arrzez and giving Rochester a 6-5 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Cody Stashak came into relieve Moya. Moya threw 1.2 innings of no hit ball, recording three strikeouts. Charlotte battled back with a sacrifice fly in the inning, tying the game 6-6.
Rooker’s eighth inning single broke the tie, bringing home Astudillo for the lead.
Stashak shut the door in the ninth with two strikeouts and a groundout to earn the victory.
*NOTES — Pittsford Mendon graduate Danny Mendick made his first appearance at Frontier Field with the Charlotte Knights Friday as he went 1-for-3 (double) with a walk…INF Nick Gordon extended his on-base streak to 19 games with a walk… Wilians Astudillo extended his hit streak to 6 games with a single in the third inning…The Minnesota Twins announced the following roster moves: RHPs Fernando Romero and Zack Littell were recalled by Minnesota (on June 13), and RHP Ryan Eades was optioned by Minnesota (on June 13) to the Wings…The series continues with a 7:05 pm game Saturday night, with the ZOOperstars performing and fireworks after the game.