Rochester doubles up Buffalo, 6-3; gains a game on Lehigh Valley for the Wild Card berth on Jim Kelly Night.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat Thruway rival Buffalo Bisons, 6-3, on Thursday night before 9,664 fans at Fronteri Field on Jim Kelly Night.
The Bisons jumped on Red Wings starter Jason Wheeler (10-4) with three consecutive singles and a 2-run double in the second inning for a 3-0 lead.
After Wheeler gave up a leadoff double in the third, he retired the next 12 batters.
“You just got to tell yourself that you’re one pitch away from getting out of trouble,” Wheeler said. “You’ve got to make each pitch each time, not worry where your runners are.
“You’ve got to bear down and not let the game get away from you.”
Wheeler pitched 6 innings, giving up 5 hits and striking out 6 batters.
Rochester manager Mike Quade added, “For Wheels to settle himself down was huge. He had a rough second, then we got the lead and he settled down was really good.
“If his pitch count weren’t elevated, he may have gone seven. Pitch count gets him more than anything else, but he’s working on it.”
Reynaldo Rodriguez gave Rochester a 4-3 lead with a 3-run homer in the third inning, after the Wings scored a run in the second on Mitch Garver’s single to plate Adam Brett Walker, who had singled.
“It was a breaking ball down the middle,” Rodriguez said. “I just layed into it,” he added with a smile.
The Wings tacked on 2 runs in the sixth to secure the victory. Rodriguez led off with a walk, stole second, and scored on Logan Schafer’s basehit. He eventually scored on a bases-loaded walk to John Ryan Murphy.
D.J. Baxendale hurled 2 innings of 1-hit ball, fanning 2, and Alex Wimmers faced 4 hitters in the ninth, 1 walk and 1 strikeout, to earn his 10th save of the season.
“A really good job by all the pitching tonight,” Quade said.
Rochester (69-57) picked up a game on Lehigh Valley (74-51) as the Red Wings now trail the IronPigs by 5.5 games for the International League Wild Card position.
Rochester and Buffalo conclude their season series on Friday night at 7:05 at Frontier Field. Fireworks will follow the game.
In roster moves on Thursday, RHP Alan Busenitz was transferred from Double-A Chattanooga to Rochester, and RHP Omar Bencomo was transferred to Double-A Chattanooga.
*NOTES — According to a Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peter tweet on Thursday night, the Twins will be extending the working agreement with the Red Wings for another 2 years. The Red Wings have called a press conference for 4 p.m. on Friday, presumably to make the official announcement…Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly was in attendance as he spoke to the crowd about concussions, and also signed autographs…Bryon Buxton missed the game due to sickness, according to Mike Quade.
Links
Rochester Red Wings – redwingsbaseball.com
Videos
Jim Kelly talk – https://youtu.be/vU7n_2hXoAI
Jim Kelly pitch – https://youtu.be/tlpeSdnsnh8
Jim Kelly football – https://youtu.be/9AfToYyDuE8
Jim Kelly interview – https://youtu.be/DSa0iuzI5F4
Jason Wheeler interview – https://youtu.be/WnNuL_807sI
Reynaldo Rodriguez interview – https://youtu.be/YmbuVW_XN94
Manager Mike Quade interview – https://youtu.be/WFkJK6hdzMI