The rookie connects for 2 homers against the Buffalo Bisons.
By Nick Sciarratta and Collin Hetherington
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings defeated the Buffalo Wings 4-1 Wednesday evening before 6,037 fans at Frontier Field.
After an hour and a half rain delay that moved the first pitch to 8:35 PM, Buffalo threatened “early” but could not score against Rochester starting pitcher Chase De Jong. After allowing back-to-back singles to open the first inning, De Jong retired the next three batters including a strikeout of Vladimir Guerrero Jr to end the inning.
Rochester’s offense gave De Jong an early lead in the first after Zander Wiel hit his first career Triple-A home run against Buffalo starter Shawn Morimando, putting the Red Wings ahead 1-0. The home run was the first in 130 at-bats for Wiel dating back to July 22 with Double-A Chattanooga.
In the third, Wiel crushed his second home run of the game, this time a two-run shot to increase the Rochester lead to 3-0.
Buffalo cut into the Red Wings lead in the fourth after Richard Urena tripled to lead off the inning. One batter later, Reese McGuire singled home Urena to make the score 3-1. The Wings threatened again after loading the basses but a run-saving play from Gregorio Petit kept the Rochester lead at two.
De Jong continued to keep the Buffalo offense quiet after throwing a six pitch fifth inning followed up by a scoreless sixth.
Rochester added another run in the sixth after Petit walked with two outs to keep the inning alive for Kennys Vargas. Vargas then hit what looked to be an inning-ending fly ball that was dropped by the second basemen Leblebijian, allowing for Petit to score to increase the Red Wings lead to 4-1.
Jake Reed came on to relieve De Jong to begin the seventh. De Jong went 6.0 innings allowing one run on eight hits while walking one and striking out five. He threw 97 pitches, 72 for strikes.
Following a scoreless seventh from Reed, Jose Fernandez came on for Buffalo to relieve Morimando. He went six innings allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits while adding a trio of strikeouts. Morimando threw 77 pitches, 53 strikes.
Tyler Duffey came on to pitch the ninth for Rochester in place of Reed, who increased his consecutive scoreless inning total to 16 on just 4 total hits.
*NOTES — The series concludes Thursday night at 7:05 pm, the final night that Rochester will suit up in the “Plates” uniforms. The game also features a pre-game Happy Hour with live music at the 10th Inning Bar, and a Plates Photo Giveaway.