Ervin Santana is sharp and efficient in his rehab start.
By CRAIG POTTER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings ended their scoreless streak at 28 innings, however they extended their losing streak to 5 games with a 7-2 loss to the Norfolk Tides Friday night before 10,823 fans at Frontier Field.
The Tides scored first in the second on a solo home run by Mike Yastrezemski, 27, who is the grandson of the Boston Red Sox’s Carl Yastrezemski.
That was the lone run Ervin Santana gave up as the Minnesota Twins hurler was making a rehab start. He pitched 2-hit ball over 6 innings, throwing 66 pitches, 46 for strikes.
Santana has yet to pitch for the Twins this season. He underwent surgery to remove a calcification on his middle finger in February. Optimistic guesses said he would miss 10-12 weeks. He said that his doctor told him he would be out until the all-star break.
“He was right,” said Santana. “It was difficult because I thought everything would go fast (with the rehab). “It depends how I feel and it depends how they think.”
When asked how he felt, Santana said, “Everything’s good. Whenever they need me, I’ll be there.”
“Obviously everything went well tonight,” added Red Wings manager Joel Skinner.
In two starts for Rochester, Santana threw 11 2/3 innings, allowed 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and had 8 strikeouts.
Edgar Corcino snapped the scoring drought for the Wings with a 370-foot, leadoff homer in the fifth inning over the left field fence.
“That got a little bit of the monkey off the backs,” Skinner said. “Any time you have a streak like that, you try not to put extra emotions on yourself.”
Rochester last scored in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday in the 12-5 loss to Louisville.
Norfolk regained the lead with 5 runs in the seventh inning against reliever Luke Bard. The Tides tacked on a run in the ninth.
Rochester’s second run came in the eighth when Andy Wilkins reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. With two outs, Juan Graterol doubled down the left field line as Wilkins scurried around the basepaths to score.
The series continues at 6:05 pm Saturday and concludes on Sunday with a matinee starting at 1:05 pm.
*NOTES — In roster moves Friday, INF Miguel Sanó was transferred from Single-A Ft. Myers to Rochester. He originally was slated to play tonight but his plane was late. He is expected to be in the lineup Saturday. Rochester manager Joel Skinner said there is a schedule to help Sano get into baseball shape, since there are lingering issues from surgery in November on his left leg…INF Taylor Motter was recalled by the Minnesota Twins…Rochester is 59-for-the-last-342 (.172 average) with runners in scoring position since the 8th inning on June 2 in Norfolk. The Wings are batting just 2-for-34 with RISP in the last 5 games…The Red Wings have the most road wins in the International League this season, going 28-22. Rochester has a league-low 16 wins at home and only Syracuse (19) has fewer than 20 home victories. The Wings have hit 41 of their 64 home runs (64%) on the road.