Vargas slugs Wings to fourth straight victory

The Red Wings first baseman – who entered the night with only three hits (all singles) over the first six games – broke out going 2-for-3 with a double, homer and three RBI while hitting the ball to at least the warning track in his first four plate appearances.

Vargas gave the Wings a 1-0 lead with a sac fly to deep center that scored Zack Granite in the first inning. He then doubled off the wall in center in the third setting up the Wings second run of the night.

After Charlotte had tied the game at two, Vargas gave Rochester the lead back with a long solo homer to right center field off Knights starter Dylan Covey in the fifth frame.

With the bases loaded an inning later, he would provide some insurance with a long drive to center that was tracked down at the warning track for his second sac fly of the game.

Tyler Duffey made the lead stand as he picked up the win in relief throwing 3.2 scoreless innings for Rochester. Duffey allowed just one hit and no walks while striking out six Knights hitters.

In eight innings of relief work this season, the Texan has yielded zero earned runs, two hits, no walks and 10 strikeouts over eight innings.

Twins prospect Fernando Romero made his first start for the Wings allowing two runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

The Knights loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but John Curtiss got Charlie Tilsonto ground out, before striking out Jose Rondon to end the game.

The Wings won despite going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving 12 stranded on the base paths.

Rochester looks to make it five straight wins on Tuesday night in the Queen City. The Red Wings will send lefty Dietrich Enns to the mound opposite right-hander Chris Beck.

NOTES: Wings skipper Joel Skinner managed the Charlotte Knights from 2012-2015 posting a 285-290 mark…The Wings hit four sacrifice flies in the victory…Ex-Wing Daniel Palka went 1-for-3 with a bloop double and two runs scored. Palka slugged 24 homers in 138 career games for the Wings over the last two seasons.