The Rochester Red Wings held off several challenges from the Buffalo Bisons to post a 5-2 victory on Tuesday night before 3,833 fans at Frontier Field.
The Bisons scored in the first off starter Logan Darnell. Adam Brett Walker knotted the count with his 12th home run of the season in the third.
Buffalo threatened to retake the lead in the fourth, but left the bases after second baseman Jorge Polanco made a great diving save on a bat that hit of Rochester pitcher Logan Darnell’s left shoulder. That play kept at lease one run from scoring as the game was tied 1-1.
The Wings forged ahead in the fifth when Wilfredo Tovar reached third when his fly ball down the right field line was dropped the Bison fielder. Buck Britton plated him with a sacrifice fly. John Ryan Murphy made it a 3-1 lead with his first homer of the season.
Each team scored a run in the 6th. Eddie Rosario continued his hot hitting with a 2-out double down the left field line, then scampered home on Tovar’s single to center.
The Red Wings added an insurance run in the 7th as Walker led off with a walk, took second on a wild pitch and third on a strike out-throw out. James Beresford then singled him home.
The Bisons outhit the Wings, 12-8, and stranded 12 runners on base.
The series shifts to Buffalo for games Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Rochester (34-25) maintained a 1.5-game lead over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (32-26) in the International League North Division. The Bisons (31-27) dropped to 2.5 games behind the Wings.
*NOTES — Alex Wimmers and wife Amy had their first child at 2:05 on Tuesday afternoon, a girl named Andi Lee. She weighed 8 lbs and 1 oz., and 20 inches long. Mother and baby are doing well…The Red Wings are just 1 of 5 teams to have 30 or more wins thus far, and 4 of the 5 reside in the IL North Division…James Beresford extended his on-base game streak to 19 when he drew a walk in the 5th inning.
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Buffalo Bills fourth-round pick Cardale Jones was the last member of the 2016 draft class to sign his rookie contract. Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Bills fourth-round pick Cardale Jones was the only unsigned member of Buffalo’s 2016 draft class. On Tuesday the club got the rookie quarterback under contract.
Jones signed his deal after Tuesday’s OTA practice session. Expected to serve as the team’s third quarterback this season, Jones will spend most of 2016 working on his personal game from his footwork to his throwing motion.
Undefeated as a college starter (11-0) Jones only threw 270 passes at Ohio State so he knows he has a lot to learn.
“I am going in here knowing that that Tyrod [Taylor] is our starter,” said Jones. “I am going in here knowing that EJ [Manuel] is our backup. I am going in here learning, working as hard as I can working with Coach [David] Lee in the film room, on and off the field. Whatever happens after that I guess is just a product of great circumstances.”
Immersed in Buffalo’s offensive playbook for the past month and getting reps in OTA practices, Jones feels he’s taken steps forward, most notably in running the huddle.
“Just really communicating the plays from the sidelines to the huddle and understanding what I’m doing on each play. It’s a lot of verbiage in the offense sometimes,” Jones told Buffalobills.com. “I don’t know quite everything yet like I want to know, but it’s a work in progress.”
“I’m excited about him because he’s a big, raw talent and does he have to come a long way? There’s no question about that,” said head coach Rex Ryan. “But, shoot, he’s almost in a perfect situation and we’ll see how he develops. I think the other two guys, with Tyrod and EJ (Manuel) here, I think that’s going to be a great mix. And you know, he can just watch these guys and learn and he has a great position coach in David Lee so, we’ll see what happens down the road with him.”
Jones confirms that he’s been given helpful feedback and advice from both Tyrod Taylorand EJ Manuel in the quarterback meeting rooms through the spring. He said it has helped him a great deal.
“Just understanding that they went through the same exact thing I’m going through now,” said Jones. “They’re kind of helping me get through those hurdles and speed bumps as painlessly as possible. I’m getting a lot of positive feedback and they’re letting me know that I’m a rookie and this time next year I’ll feel 10 times more comfortable than I do now.”
Jones quarterbacked Ohio State to the national title in 2014 orchestrating wins over Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon en route to the first ever college football playoff championship.