Rochester manages just 1 run the night after erupting for 15 against the Mud Hens.
TOLEDO, OHIO — A night after scoring 15 runs, the Wings offense mustered just one, spoiling a nice outing from Zack Littell, in a 4-1 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field before 8,245 fans Friday night.
The Wings grabbed the lead in the third inning after Jeremy Hazelbaker led off the frame with a triple down the left field line. Taylor Motter followed with a sacrifice fly to center to give the Wings a 1-0 lead.
Rochester (55-67) held that advantage all the way until the sixth inning, when the Mud Hens began to string some hits together. With one out, Toledo hit 3 consecutive doubles off Littell, albeit 2 were of the bloop variety, to plate 2 runs.
Two batters later, Jason Krizan ripped a single to center. Hazelbaker came up throwing to the plate, but catcher Juan Gratetrol cut the throw off and threw to second to try and nab Krizan. His toss sailed into center and past Hazelbaker allowing Krizan to scamper home and increase the lead to 4-1.
Littell’s line – 4 runs (3 earned) over 5.2 IP — was not indicative of how well he pitched. The righty struck out 7, while not walking a hitter as he suffered his sixth loss of the season.
Nick Anderson went the rest of the way for the Wings allowing just 1 hit while striking out 3 in 2.1 scoreless innings.
A night after 7 Red Wings collected multi-hits, only the rehabbing Robbie Grossman had a 2-hit night on Friday.
Game Three of this four-game set is Saturday night in Toledo. Chase De Jong (0-2, 4.80) gets the start for the Wings opposite RHP Warwick Saupold (2-0, 4.88).
*NOTES — Kennys Vargas has homered in back-to-back games for the third time this season (also August 8-9 vs. Toledo and three straight from May 29-31 at Durham). Vargas now has 47 career home runs with Rochester, one shy of tying Trevor Plouffe for second during the Twins era (since 2003). Garrett Jones leads with 81, which also is seventh in franchise history…The Red Wings are second in the International League with a 3.45 ERA. Pawtucket leads the league at 3.42. A Rochester team has not led the league in
ERA since the 1976 squad posted a 3.51 mark…Rochester is last in the IL with 423 runs and 3.50 runs per game.