Wings offense struggles in loss

Action started in the top half of the second inning as Rochester starter Myles Jaye found himself in a two out jam after allowing a single to Sean Kazmar, Jr. After Tyler Smith lined a hit into the left field corner, a perfectly executed relay between Jake Cave and Tyler Featherston cut down Kazmar at the plate for the final out of the inning.

Chase Whitley got the start for the Stripers and did not allow a hit during 3.1 innings of work. Whitley allowed no runs while striking out three and walking one. Whitley threw 40 pitches, 22 for strikes. Whitley was a last minute replacement on the mound for scheduled starter Max Fried, who was recalled by Atlanta earlier Tuesday.

Gwinnett started the scoring in the top half of the fifth after a walk to Jose Bautista and a single by Ronald Acuna, Jr. put a pair on with no outs. A fielder’s choice followed up by a bloop single into left field by Carlos Franco brought Bautista in to score, giving Gwinnett a 1-0 lead.

Ryne Harper came on in the top half of the sixth inning to relieve Jaye who went 5.0 innings allowing one run on seven hits. Jaye threw 85 pitches, 47 for strikes.

Gregorio Petit led off the bottom of the sixth with an infield single that Bautista chose not to pick up as the ball rolled just inside of the foul line, breaking up Gwinnett’s no-hit bid after five innings. With two outs, Cave lifted a routine fly ball to left field that was dropped by Acuna, Jr. allowing Petit to score from first base, evening the score 1-1.

After Harper loaded the bases in the bottom half of the seventh following a pair of walks and a single to Franco, Dustin Peterson hit a grand slam over the left field wall to give Gwinnett a 5-1 lead. Later in the inning with two outs, Cave made a diving catch with a runner on second to save a run, holding the Gwinnett lead at four runs.

Harper was relieved by Nick Anderson to begin the eighth inning after Harper went 2.0 innings allowing four runs on three hits.

Anderson struck out four in two relief innings. The rookie reliever has now fanned 13 in 9 innings pitched.

Jose Bautista was 1-for-3 with a single, two walks, a stolen base, and two runs scored while Tyler Flowers was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts as part of his rehab assignment.

The Wings worked Andres Santiago for a pair of walks to open the bottom of the ninth, and Evan Phillips took over for Santiago. A double play was followed by an RBI single from Willians Astudillo,  bringing home Cave to make the score 5-2.

The Stripers out-hit the Wings 11-2.

Winning Pitcher: Santiago (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Harper (0-1)
Save: Phillips (1)
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