Tommy Milone hurled 7 scoreless innings and Adam Brett Walker drove in the lone run of the game in the bottom of the 9th to propel the Rochester Red Wings to a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Tuesday night before 3,858 fans at Frontier Field.
Milone (4-0) and Columbus starter Mike Clevinger (6-0) each entered the game looking to keep their perfect records intact. However both pitchers did not figure in the final outcome. Each departed after 7 innings in a scoreless tie.
The Red Wings defense came up with several key plays to keep the Clippers off the scoreboard. Centerfielder Eddie Rosario ran down a fly ball at the warning track in the third, and second baseman Jorge Polanco saved a run in the sixth as he made a diving grab of the ball, after it deflected off the pitching mound, then sitting on his backside, threw out the batter at first base as the Clipper baserunner on second had to hold up at third.
Left fielder Logan Schafer then made a nice catch to end the inning.
The Wings won the game in the bottom of the 9th when Rosario led off with a walk against Columbus reliever Austin Adams. Two outs later, Walker ripped a single to right as Rosario scampered around the base path from second. Rochester manager Mike Quade waved him on home. The throw from right fielder Joey Butler was up the third base side to catcher Adam Moore. Rosario stayed to the outside of Moore and extended his left hand on his slide to touch the plate with the game-winning run.
The victory keeps Rochester (39-28) a half game ahead of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (39-29) for first place in the International League North Division. The Red Wings also boast the best record in the IL.
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The Buffalo Bills began minicamp on Tuesday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Stephon Gilmore watched from the sidelines, Karlos Williams has a lot of work in front of him and Tyrod Taylor looked very sharp on day one of Bills minicamp.
Bills minicamp opened on Tuesday as the players began the final phase of their offseason program. Here are the headlines from day one.
Taylor’s touch
There’s no underestimating the benefit of having an entrenched starting quarterback on your roster. With that being the case for the Bills this season with Tyrod Taylor the benefits are already evident. Taylor looked extremely sharp on Tuesday. Only of few of his pass attempts did not connect with their intended targets in the first minicamp practice.
His most impressive throws were a fade down the right sideline that he dropped over Leonard Hankerson’s shoulder for a long gain and a touch pass over the middle to Nick O’Leary despite tight coverage and a pass rush closing in. His most impressive throw was a needle threader during red zone that he zipped between a pair of defenders to find Mark Salas in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Taylor admits having the rapport he has with his receiving corps now is one of the main reasons for his consistent ball placement and accuracy.
“It definitely takes reps,” said Taylor. “It takes learning your receivers. Of course that’s what I had a chance to do during this offseason and the OTA periods. Just throw a bunch of balls to guys and understand what is comfortable to them, the ball they can adjust to and just learning your receiver. It’s my job to get the ball to them, but the better I know my receiver the better off I am.”
Gilmore a spectator
Stephon Gilmore was in attendance for mandatory minicamp, but was a spectator on Tuesday. The Bills cornerback indicated that it was a mutual decision reached by him and the coaching staff.
“Both coaches kind of want to watch me now. Myself I feel like it’s better for me to wait it out and go when the time is right,” said Gilmore. “I probably won’t be doing anything these three days. Probably a little bit of individual and then working on my craft after practice and go from there.”
Gilmore did stay after practice as assistant defensive backs coach Ed Reed ran some defensive backs through some extra drills.
Head coach Rex Ryan isn’t all that concerned about Gilmore’s readiness for the season at this point.
“One thing I know about Stephon is I know he’s going to be ready to roll,” said Ryan. “He’s going to be in shape. He’s going to do all that stuff. He loves it. He can’t help himself. He’s out there talking to the guys all the time, what we’re putting in. He’s staying up on everything.”
Gilmore said he has no frustration with his contract and that it is not a part of why he isn’t participating.
Karlos has to lighten load
Bills RB Karlos Williams only participated in the very early stages of practice before heading over to work the remainder of the session with strength and conditioning coach Eric Ciano. The reason why is Williams is overweight.
“Obviously you wish that he was in much better shape,” said Ryan. “There’s no question about it. I think in the future he’s got to realize that what he did this offseason is far from what you want. But hopefully being a young guy he’ll learn from it.”
Door open at running back
With Williams forced to work on getting back in shape and LeSean McCoy not participating in team drills due to an ankle problem, the door is open for some of Buffalo’s other backs to showcase their abilities.
The first man through the rotation Tuesday in the absence of McCoy and Karlos Williams was rookie fifth-round pick Jonathan Williams, who has performed well this spring. Mike Gillislee was the next man through followed by James Wilder Jr. and Boom Herron.
“Yeah it does open the door for both (Jonathan and Karlos) Williams, Gillislee as well,” Ryan said. “I’ve been really impressed with James Wilder. He’s not as good as his dad, but there’s only been about a handful of backs who have been. Gillislee, ‘Touchdown Mike,’ you see him out there and he just does a great job.”
Gillislee looked quick to the corner on a handful of his runs, which went for first down yardage and more on Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin both Olympic hopefuls
Just about every Bills fan is aware of Marquise Goodwin’s quest to make the US Olympic track and field team for the second time as a long jumper. After finishing 10th in the long jump in the London Games, Goodwin is on the precipice of making the squad again for the 2016 game in Rio. But he’s not the only member of his family ready to represent his country.
Recently married, Goodwin’s wife Morgan will also be competing at the US track and field Olympic trials that run from July 1st to the 10th.
“My wife is competing also,” said Goodwin. “She’s in the women’s 100 meter hurdles. She’ll be at the Olympic trials and she has a shot too. Hopefully we can make history.”
Goodwin has to finish as one of the top three long jumpers to make the US Olympic team. The trials take place in Eugene, Oregon.
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Rochester Knighthawks players Joe Walters, Dan Dawson and Brad Gillies will headline an all-star cast of instructors at the June Knighthawks Under Armour© Lacrosse Camp. The first of two boys’ camps will take place at Total Sports Experience in Gates from Monday, June 27th to Thursday, June 30th.
“Our lacrosse staff is one of the best in the area,” said Walters. “We have a great mix of Knighthawks players, who do a great job teaching the game, and college kids who come back home after playing at some great lacrosse institutions.”
Walters, who is a three-time National Lacrosse League champion and four-time college All-American, returns as the camp director. He will be joined by one of the most decorated lacrosse players in the world, Dan Dawson. The 15-year NLL pro has captured two Champion’s Cups, one league MVP award and one Championship Game MVP honor. The Oakville, Ontario native has also won six Mann Cups and three World Indoor Lacrosse gold medals with Team Canada.
Dan, who worked the Knighthawks Winter Clinic this past season, is thrilled to have another opportunity to teach local youth lacrosse players.
“I am excited to interact with players that have given us so much support over the years,” said Dawson. “We all share a love and passion for this great sport. It would be nice to get to know some of our fans on a personal level.”
Gillies, who also hails from Oakville, also has an impressive lacrosse resume. At the collegiate level, he was a four-year standout at RIT, where he was a two-time Liberty League All-Academic selection and an Honorable Mention All-American. This past season, he was an assistant coach at his alma mater. In the indoor game, Gillies is a two-time Minto Cup champion and was a first-round selection of the Knighthawks at the 2016 NLL Entry Draft.
Gillies, who worked the Knighthawks Box Clinic in March, is back to assist with the Knighthawks Summer Camps.
“I’m looking forward to working the camp; it’ll be a really fun week,” he said. “Working with the kids for a full week will be a great chance for them to get better.”
Former Knighthawk and University of Maryland standout Andrew Whipple is also back as one of the instructors. He will be joined by John Maloney and Greg Coholan, who both play with Walters on the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse. Maloney (Victor) played his college ball at the University at Albany, while Coholan (West Irondequoit) played at the University of Virginia.
For attending the camps, kids will receive a free Under Armour© lacrosse head, a reversible Under Armour© pinney, a ticket to a 2017 Knighthawks home game and top-level instruction from world-class players and staff. The camp also offers special sessions for goalies. Spots are still available for the June and July camps. For any questions, email us at camp.info@knighthawks.com
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The Western New York Flash have acquired McCall Zerboni in a deal that sends a 2017 NWSL College Draft Pick to the Boston Breakers. Zerboni was a member of the Flash’s 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer and 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League Elite championship-winning teams, as well as its 2013 and 2014 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) campaigns. Zerboni, 29, made eight appearances (eight starts) with the Breakers this season.
Flash head coach Paul Riley described Zerboni’s first stint with the Flash as “a huge success” and believes “she can reproduce her best form and propel the team forward.” The Camarillo, Calif., native made a total of 44 appearances (43 starts) with the Flash in the NWSL era so far – the second most capped player in team history – and sits ninth in all-time goals for the club (4).
“McCall is a great professional who understands the process and what it takes to perform day in and day out,” added Riley. “We needed to add quality, experience and depth to our midfield, and McCall ticks all the boxes. Her work rate, resilience and character will be massive for our young group, and we look forward to integrating her into our competitive training environment.”
Though returning to the team she has spent most of her professional career with, the Flash have had a complete turnover from the last time she played for Western New York in 2014. Despite all the changes, the midfielder may find some familiar qualities within the team. Zerboni left the Flash for Portland Thorns FC in 2015, when Riley served as head coach for the team. Current Flash assistant coach Scott Vallow and defender Courtney Niemiec were also a part of the 2015 Thorns. Zerboni will also join fellow former UCLA Bruins Abby Dahlkemper, Samantha Mewis, Katelyn Rowland and Taylor Smith as she makes her return to the Flash.
The Western New York Flash look to pull away in the NWSL standings against undefeated Portland Thorns FC on Friday, June 17, at 7:00 p.m. at Rochester Rhinos Stadium