By CHUCKIE MAGGIO
Red Wings lefthander Josh Rogers continued a string of impressive outings on Tuesday night, but his lineup left him just two hits and a no-decision.
Rogers was sharp, surrendering just three hits over 6.1 innings and throwing 70 of his 94 pitches for strikes before departing to a lengthy acclamation from the crowd of 3,755 at Frontier Field. But the game’s most consequential action took place after he exited.
The Red Wings plated two runs in the seventh but lost that lead to a three-run Buffalo Bisons ninth. The Bisons took the series opener 3-2, handing Rochester its third defeat in four contests.
“It’s frustrating,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy remarked. “When you face a team like this, with this caliber, I think they have the best pitching staff in our division, maybe all of Triple-A. To get a big hit in the seventh, to take the lead in the seventh and then the way we lost in the ninth… we didn’t execute there.”
Fielding, one of Rochester’s chief weaknesses all season, came into play on multiple occasions late. Rafael Bautista provided a highlight play in right, robbing Tyler White of a two-run home run in the seventh to keep the game scoreless. But third baseman Brandon Snyder‘s throwing error allowed Kevin Smith to reach safely and advance to second base with one out in the ninth inning, which precipitated Smith scoring on Alejandro Kirk‘s single.
“You’re facing a team with this caliber and you make a mistake, it usually comes back to bite you and it did tonight,” LeCroy acknowledged.
Dakota Bacus, who entered Tuesday with three saves in four opportunities, drew a Riley Adams flyout for the second out but watched White earn redemption by crushing a breaking ball to the left field scoreboard.
Kirby Snead earned the save Bacus let slip, putting the Red Wings down in order in the ninth.
“I think (Bacus) went to the slider a little more often than he normally does,” LeCroy assessed. “He did do a really nice job with the sinker… These guys, if you let them get set they’ll beat you up pretty bad like they did with a couple sliders. We’ll put him back out there. We’re gonna keep our chin up and keep going.”
Jake Noll‘s two singles represented Rochester’s only multi-hit performance against Buffalo’s pitching staff, led by Thomas Hatch‘s hard-luck no-decision. Hatch did not allow a hit after Noll singled in the first inning. The Red Wings recorded just one hit in seven chances with runners in scoring position.
The Red Wings’ leadoff batter reached base in four of the nine innings, but only scored once.
LeCroy praised Rogers, who has now thrown at least five innings while allowing a single run or fewer in three of his last five starts.
“I thought it was the best one, to be honest,” LeCroy commented. “Against this team, they swing the bats pretty well. For Rogers to do what he did, I thought he did a nice job.
“He’s pitched pretty good all year, but an especially good outing for him.”
Leave a Reply