Reyes becomes first Red Wings pitcher to homer since 1999 in Rochester’s win over Syracuse

By CHUCKIE MAGGIO

The last time a Rochester Red Wings pitcher hit a home run, they didn’t have any healthy position players available on the bench. Jason McCommon hit a solo homer on Sept. 5, 1999, his last professional game, to provide an infrequent highlight in a losing season.

Luis Reyes, who homered for Harrisburg in 2018 and swings with reckless abandon, became the first Rochester hurler to hit a ball over the fence this millennium with a two-run blast to center field off Josh Walker. The fifth-inning fly helped the Red Wings gain a 2-1 lead.

Though Reyes surrendered a home run to Mason Williams in the sixth and left with a no-decision, Donovan Casey’s RBI single in the ninth and another shutout performance by the Red Wing bullpen aided a 3-2 victory. The Red Wings have won eight of their last 11 games and lead the week-long series 3-1.

Reyes completed 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits and four walks. While inefficient, throwing 42 of his 87 pitches for balls and exiting the game after allowing three consecutive baserunners, Nick Wells stranded the two runners he inherited.

The Red Wings outhit Syracuse 8-5, including Casey and Jake Noll recording two hits apiece. Ronald Peña earned his first save of the season after a clean ninth inning.