Saturday C&C SportsROC Report
The Rochester Red Wings lost, 5-4, to the Louisville Bats on Saturday night in Kentucky.
The newest Red Wing, Logan Shafer, blasted a home run in the first to give Rochester the early lead.
The Bats knotted the game with a run in the second, then forged ahead with 3 runs in the third off Rochester starter Jason Wheeler.
The Wings put together a 3-run rally in the 7th to even the count at 4-4. Kennys Vargas doubled home James Beresford, who had reached on a single, then scored when Eddie Rosario homered to tie the game.
However, Louisville scored a run in the bottom of the 8th off reliever Ryan O’Rourke for the victory.
Despite the loss, the Wings and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre remain in a flat-footed tie for first place in the International League North Division.
The Red Wings conclude the road trip with a game on Sunday afternoon against Louisville.
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The Rochester Rhinos blanked FC Montreal, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon north of the border.
Goals by Christian Volesky and Steevan Dos Santos led the defending USL champions to victory. Rochester (5-2-3, 18 points) had the better of the chances in the opening half, but didn’t break through until the closing seconds when a good pass over the top by Dominic Samuel sent Volesky into the right channel, and the second-year forward finished well.
Dos Santos doubled the lead five minutes into the second half, and could have had two more soon after. Montreal (1-9-0, 3pts) tried to find a response in the final half-hour, but was unable to cut into the deficit, and unable to build on its first win of the season a week ago.
Three Things That Matter:
1. The opening goal of the game was crucial for the Rhinos, coming as it did just before the halftime break. While Rochester had decent chances previously to Christian Volesky’s opener, going into the break scoreless would have given the chance for Montreal feel halfway decent about its chances. Instead, the hosts were put on the back foot, and then soon conceded a second after the break as the Rhinos moved smoothly toward victory.
2. Volesky’s record against Montreal is a remarkable one. While Montreal hasn’t been the stiffest opponent since its debut at the start of last season, no one has been able to do what Volesky has to them offensively, with his goal on Saturday the eighth in six games against the side.
3. Montreal looked far brighter in the final half-hour of the game, and put pressure on the Rhinos back line looking for a way back into the game. While it will have been heartening for the team, you have to ask where the intensity and pace of play they employed then was for the rest of the contest, when it seemed a little too easy for the Rhinos to gain the upper hand.
USLSoccer.com Man of the Match
Steevan Dos Santos, Rochester Rhinos – The Cape Verdean striker was back to his powerful best on Saturday, being denied the opening goal by an outstanding save from Montreal goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, and proving difficult to contain for Montreal’s defense all game as he notched the second goal of the game.
Upcoming Games:
June 11: Rochester Rhinos at Toronto FC II, 7:30 p.m.
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High school boys lacrosse New York State Quarterfinals at All High Stadium in Buffalo from Saturday.
Far West Regional vs Section 6
Class A
Victor 17, Orchard Park 7
Class B
Webster Thomas 12, Hamburg 10
Class C
Penn Yan 17, Akron 6