The Knights score early in beating Rochester, 8-2.
By CRAIG POTTER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After breaking out for 14 runs the previous night, the Rochester Red Wings struggled to get the offense going as they fell, 8-2, in the first game of the 3-game series against the Charlotte Knights Friday night before 9,981 fans at Frontier Field.
However, the Wings were forced to rely on the bullpen as scheduled starter Kohl Stewart was scratched to keep him in the mix to possibly pitch for the Minnesota Twins this weekend.
“That’s Triple-A baseball,” said Rochester manager Joel Skinner said of the situation. “It’s nothing new. It’s just something that you have to go through, and we did that tonight.”
Rochester starter DJ Baxendale retired the Knights in order in the first on a strikeout, a leaping catch by third baseman Willians Astudillo, and a diving catch by leftfielder LaMonte Wade.
However, in the second frame, Baxendale was tagged for 3 consecutive hits, 2 singles and a RBI double, and replaced on the mound by Luke Bard. The Knights ended up scoring 5 times in the inning with 3 earned runs and 2 unearned runs.
Charlotte extended the lead to 8-0 in the third with 3 more runs on 4 hits.
The Red Wings finally broke through for 2 runs in the fifth. Edgar Corcino led off with a single. With 1 out, Jordan Pacheco drew a walk. After a Taylor Motter strikeout, Nick Gordon ripped a RBI single. Astudillo reached on an error as Pacheco crossed the plate with Rochester’s second run.
Wings reliever John Curtiss gave up a leadoff double in the sixth, but then retired the next 9 Knights batters.
“It’s a situation where you’re also trying to make sure to be as efficient as possible,” Skinner said, “and John really picked us up tonight.”
“You win some. You lose some,” said Curtiss. “It’s tough. Hopefully we win tomorrow.”
*NOTES — In roster moves Friday, RHP Aaron Slegers was returned to the Minnesota Twins from his MLB rehab assignment; RHP DJ Baxendale was reinstated from the disabled list; OF LaMonte Wade was reinstated from the disabled list; RHP Tyler Duffey and INF Tyler Austin were recalled by Minnesota…Coming into tonight’s game, Rochester is last in the International League with 392 runs and 3.44 runs per game average. The Red Wings are on pace to score 481 runs, which would be the lowest run total and runs per game average by a Rochester team since at least 1979. Only 5 IL teams since 1979 have scored fewer than 500 runs in a season: Buffalo in 2016 (499 in 144 games), Pawtucket in 2009 (486 in 143 games), Norfolk in 2006 (497 in 141 games), Columbus in 1988 (498 in 142 games), and Toledo in 1988 (433 in 142 games)…If the Red Wings suffer 2 more losses at home, it will mark the first losing home record since 2011 (32-40)…Rochester is 94-for-the-last-501 (.188 average) with runners in scoring position since June 2. Overall, the Red Wings are batting .206 with RISP and .198 with RISP and 2 outs this season…Willians Astudillo extended his career-high home run total on Aug. 3 with his 11th of the season. He had 17 career homers entering this season and had never hit more than 4 homersin any one year…INF Gregorio Petit and OF Edgar Corcino extended their hitting streaks to 5 games Friday night…The Knights won 2 of the 3 games played in Charlotte earlier in the season…The series continues with a 7:05 pm game Saturday and concludes with a 1:05 pm game Sunday.