The Rochester Red Wings continue to get excellent pitching, and Kennys Vargas smacked a grand slam, to lead the team to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Wednesday night before 5,217 fans at Frontier Field.
John Ryan Murphy started the bottom of the third with a walk. Singles by Danny Santana and James Beresford loaded the bases. With one out, Vargas blasted a pitch 432 over the right field fence as the ball left his bat at 114 mph.
Rochester starter Andrew Albers hurled 5.1 innings, scattering 8 hits and yielding just 1run. He also struck out 4. The Clippers scored their one run in the fifth frame with a 2-out single.
Sean Burnett came on in relief in the sixth with one out and the bases loaded. He got a strike out and a fly out to center to end the threat.
Alex Wimmers pitched the final two innings, retiring all 6 batters he faced.
The win keeps Rochester (39-27) in first place in the International League North Division, a half game ahead of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (39-28). The Red Wings also are 12 games over .500 for the first time since late July, 2013.
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The Buffalo Bills continued minicamp on Wednesday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Here are the items of note from Day 2 of Bills minicamp.
World of difference for Woods
Robert Woods is having a whale of a spring. Explosive off the line, lightning quick in and out of his breaks and acrobatic when going up to pull in passes. It’s all in stark contrast to last season when Woods wasn’t any of those things. The problem was Woods had torn his groin on both sides, yet played through it until the team shut him down for the final two games of the season.
After offseason surgery and rehabilitation, Woods hard work has revealed itself on the practice field. Wednesday may have been his best day this spring. Whether it was consistent separation, running routes with pinpoint precision or pulling in passes that looked uncatchable, Woods did it all in the team’s second minicamp practice.
For the fourth-year receiver just being healthy has made all the difference.
“I feel pretty great,” Woods told Buffalobills.com. “I had a long offseason of training and rehabbing and just getting right. It feels good. It’s like a blessing to be back out here full speed, running, getting open, back to normal. It feels good.”
Woods made several eye-catching receptions during the team portions of practice. His best effort came when Tyrod Taylor’s pass on a post pattern was high and Woods climbed the ladder and did a 180 in mid-air to get his hands in position to make the reception before sticking the landing and getting yards after the catch.
The receiver has proven to be a tough cover for just about every cornerback that has matched up with him. Woods attributes
“Getting my stride back and I’m feeling very explosive,” Woods said. “I felt like I lacked that last year with the injury and I didn’t want it impact me again this year.”
Bills receivers coach Sanjay Lal quantified the improvement in Woods ability on the field from being injured last year to now.
“A ton. His drive phase is one of the best on the team. He comes off every ball like he’s running a go route,” said Lal. “He’s done a good job of holding that longer in his routes. He’s in and out of his cuts the best I’ve seen him.”
Go routes
Speaking of go routes they were a popular play call during Wednesday’s practice as the offense continuously tested the defense with long bombs down the sidelines. Whether it was 11-on-11 or 7-on-7 passes were being hurled deep downfield.
The quarterbacks didn’t connect on all of them, but receivers did win and get behind defensive backs a good deal.
“It was a big part of our offense last year,” said Lal. “I think we were one of the best teams in the league hitting go balls. Also the way corners played us last year we know there will be something there.”
Buffalo did lead the league in points scored outside the red zone last season with 194.
Among the better long distance connections Wednesday were Tyrod Taylor hitting Greg Little in the right side of the end zone. Cardale Jones also hooked up with Dez Lewis for a 60-yard bomb for a touchdown.
Jones continued to work on his deep ball accuracy after practice.
Size helping receiving corps
Part of what appears to be helping Buffalo’s receiving corps this season is a sharp increase in size. Last season the tallest receiver who saw consistent playing time was Sammy Watkins at 6-1. Marcus Easley was the tallest on the roster at 6-2. Now there are a total of seven new receivers standing 6-2 or taller.
Most noticeable through the spring has been Leonard Hankerson (6-2), Dez Lewis (6-4) and Greg Little (6-2). Receivers coach Sanjay Lal is optimistic that improving the size in the receiving corps will pay dividends this fall.
“It comes down to how physical can we play,” said Lal. “In the red zone there is going to be grabbing. There will be guys hooking people. So now if we’re strong and big and physical and nasty, how do we fight through it? So it’s encouraging because we actually have the physical skill set to do it. We’re not just preaching it and the guy is 5-8 and 168 pounds. He may want to, but physically it won’t happen. Now it can happen and there’s no excuse.”
On the flip side that added size in the receiving corps is also helping to prepare Buffalo’s defense for the big receiver assignments they’ll inevitably face this season.
“In the past we had a lot of smaller guys, but now we have more vertical threat guys and a lot of bigger receivers this year and you can definitely tell,” said Aaron Williams. “They’re using their bodies out there. It’s helping not only them, but us. When we go against bigger receivers down the road it’ll help prepare us for what they look for and so it should benefit us having those big receivers out there in practice.”
Group effort in secondary
Whether it’s rookie sixth-round pick Kevon Seymour playing cornerback with the starting unit in place of Stephon Gilmore or Robert Blanton making a pre-snap call, the returning players in Buffalo’s secondary are committed to assisting every defensive back on the roster. Vets like Aaron Williams knows that will only cater to more consistent play as a group on the back end especially when a starter might go down to injury during the season.
“We’re all working together and I think everybody does a great job of keeping each other accountable as far as everybody knowing what they’re supposed to do,” said Williams, who had an interception Wednesday during team work. “We try to do our best to help each other out on the field. Whoever is out there on the field we want them to know what they’re doing at all times. And if somebody gets hurt we want somebody on the back end to be ready to have their name called and fill in that role. We’re doing a great job in the DB room of getting in the playbook and watch film all together.”
The best example of that team approach Wednesday happened during 11-on-11 team work when Nickell Robey anticipated a route concept, broke off his coverage assignment to sag into the deep middle and knock away a pass intended for WR Greg Salas when CB Corey White wasn’t in position to make a play on the ball.
Hughes out with food poisoning
Bills OLB Jerry Hughes was not on the practice field Wednesday due to food poisoning. Seeing the most time on the field in his absence were OLBs Lorenzo Alexander and IK Enemkpali.
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The Rochester Rhinos, who had not conceded a goal during two rounds of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, met their match as Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls earned 1-0 victory during Wednesday’s Fourth Round at Rhinos Stadium.
NYRB midfielder Sacha Kljestan recorded a first-half penalty kick and the Red Bulls never looked back.
The Rhinos outscored their first two Open Cup opponents – Southie FC and Lansdowne Bhoys FC – by a combined 9-0 margin. The shutout streak came to a close when Klejstan converted a 20th-minute penalty kick, firing slightly toward the right of the frame as Rochester goalkeeper Tomas Gomez dove in the opposite direction. Gomez had denied Klejstan at the near left post just 7 minutes earlier, but the veteran Klejstan did not miss a step on the PK attempt for a 1-0 lead.
Rochester nearly had an answer in the 35th minute on Kenardo Forbes’ free kick from more than 25 yards out, head-on at the goal. Forbes fired to the right of NYRB’s 5-man wall toward the right post, and his high-paced attempt was just barely driven wide right. Forbes’ attempt was so close that it actually bent and hit the back support post of the goal.
The Red Bulls had control of the match for much of the second half, with some sporadic attempts on frame. Gomez came up with a clutch save against NYRB’s Bradley Wright-Phillips in the 62rnd minute. After a poor giveaway from the Rhinos, Justin BIlyeu had a channel to cross the ball in and found Wright-Phillips, whose header at the right post was batted straight up by Gomez and then collected.
Rochester managed one close attempt down the stretch in the 83rd minute on a free kick attempt that pulled NYRB goalkeeper Nick Robles well off his line. Rochester sent the ball toward frame and Gideon Baah made an important clearance at the goal line to maintain the clean sheet for New York.
Gomez made two clutch saves in second-half stoppage time to keep Rochester in it to continue pushing forward, but a goal was not meant to be for the Rhinos as their tournament came to a close.
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Dozens of game-worn Rochester Americans jerseys have been added to the available inventory for the team’s special Father’s Day Weekend Sale at the Amerks Team Store presented by Adpro Sports, located in the lower atrium at The Blue Cross Arena, on Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In addition to various red, white and blue game-worn jerseys from recent seasons (limit of five per purchase), the sale will also feature a limited selection of new and used skates, sticks, gloves, pants, socks and goalie equipment (pads, chest protectors, blockers, catching gloves, pants, skates and sticks).
The 60th Anniversary Jerseys worn by Amerks Alumni members during the pregame festivities on Jan. 8, 2016, when the Amerks celebrated their storied history prior to the game against the Hershey Bears, will be on sale with a portion of the proceeds going to the Rochester Americans Alumni Association. The available jerseys include the likes of Jody Gage, Mal Davis, Randy Cunneyworth, Richie Dunn, Olaf Kolzig, John Van Boxmeer, Scott Metcalfe and more. Autographed jerseys will be available for $250 while the un-signed sweaters can be purchased for $225.
There will also be a limited selection of non-lettered, authentic jerseys from various Theme Night games available, including Irish Night, Military Appreciation Night and Pink the Rink. A limited selection of 2016 NHL Draft merchandise will also be available.
A sampling of some of the game-worn jerseys from recent seasons include the following players:
Red Jerseys: Drew Bagnall, Joe Finley, Matt Hackett, Patrick Kaleta, Connor Knapp, Andrey Makarov, Kevin Porter, Evan Rankin, Chad Ruhwedel, Tim Schaller
White Jerseys: Jerry D’Amigo, Justin Kea, Connor Knapp, Nick Petrecki, Kevin Porter, Frederick Roy, Chad Ruhwedel, Tim Schaller
Blue Jerseys: Drew Bagnall, Matt Ellis, Jerry D’Amigo, Zac Dalpe, Matt Hackett, Frederick Roy
In addition, there will be a 30% in-store discount on all other merchandise (this excludes equipment, Draft merchandise and specialty/authentic jerseys such as the Game-Worn, Alumni and Theme Night sweaters). The 30% discount cannot be combined with other offers.
Fans will also have the chance to select their seats for the 2016-17 season on Saturday, June 18. Amerks 2016-17 Season Ticket Memberships, which start as low as just $10 per game, are on-sale now. The Amerks are also offering a variety of partial plans, including Half-Season Memberships and Flex Season Memberships with vouchers good for best available seat to any home game. All memberships are up to 40% off box office day of game pricing. For more information, visit www.amerks.com or call 1-855-GO-AMERKS
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The Western New York Flash have waived Jeon Ga-Eul, the club announced on Wednesday. Jeon made two appearances and one start for a total of 85 minutes for the Flash this season.
Jeon, 27, was the first South Korean player to play in the National Women’s Soccer League history. She signed with Western New York on January 1, 2016, and made her NWSL debut against Sky Blue FC on May 7, 2016. The midfielder helped the Flash to a 4-0 victory over the Boston Breakers during Week Seven of NWSL, drawing a penalty kick after being taken down in the box, then converted by teammate Abby Dahlkemper.
The Flash sit in first place of the NWSL standings and look to pull away against undefeated Portland Thorns FC on Friday, June 17, at 7 p.m. at Rhinos Stadium.
The Flash will team up with Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen and Watkins Glen International on Friday night. The Flash will wear special co-branded white jerseys that will be raffled off after the game to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Fans in attendance will be able to purchase raffle tickets throughout the game for a chance to win one of the jerseys worn by the players. After the match, the winners will be announced and get to meet the player whose jersey they won. Fans will also have the opportunity to take pictures with the official pace car for the event at the stadium.
All proceeds from the raffle will go to Golisano Children’s Hospital based in Rochester. A branch of University of Rochester Medical Center, it is the only children’s hospital in the area and serves more than 85,000 children and their families each year. With care that spans over 40 specialty areas, Golisano Children’s Hospital is the referral center for all seriously ill or injured children from the 17-county Finger Lakes region and beyond.