The Rochester Red Wings defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers on Tuesday, 5-2. The biggest story for some, though, came in who didn’t finish the game. That’s because Cade Cavalli left the game in the top of fourth with an injury, although Red Wings manager Matthew LeCroy said the move was mostly precautionary in nature.
“He had a little thing on his finger,” said LeCroy. “It wasn’t really a blister, it was a little small piece of skin that got pulled off of his finger. He wanted to keep going, but we thought it would be best not to. I think we got it at the right time, so I don’t think it’s going to be an issue.”
Cavalli, generally regarded as the top prospect in the Nationals system, had been on a hot streak, going 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA since May 22. In the last few days, he had been named an International League Player of the Week and a representative for the Nationals in the All-Star Futures Game. He had continued his dominance on Tuesday, having struck out six while giving up two hits and an unearned run in three-and-two-thirds innings.
On his 49th pitch of the game, however, something went wrong. The ball came out of his hand slower than usual, and he immediately motioned for the coach and training staff. After a brief examination, he left the game. As mentioned earlier, some sort of piece of skin had gotten pulled off his finger. While Cavalli wanted to continue, the Wings coaching and training staff decided to be on the safe side.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO HERE.
“I didn’t think it’d be a good time to keep pitching, it looked kind of fresh [and] it was just big enough to be a problem for him,” said LeCroy.
Given the importance of Cavalli both to the Red Wings rotation and the future plans of their parent club, it may be lost on some that the Red Wings had an excellent day at the plate and out of the bullpen.
The Wings first got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs and a man on second, new call-up Jake Alu ended his first AAA at-bat with a double lined to right, bringing home Nick Banks. After Omaha starter Daniel Mengden walked Donovan Casey, Andrew Stevenson hit the first pitch he saw deep to right into the Rochester bullpen for his seventh home run of the season to make it 4-0.
It was a special home run for Stevenson, who recently became a father after his family welcomed a daughter earlier this month. This, of course, led to some good-natured ribbing from his teammates.
“I guess the dad strength is starting to kick in, that’s what all the guys are saying,” he said post-game. “It’s been good, shout-out to my wife, she’s a superhero [and] I appreciate everything she’s done so far.”
Stevenson would ultimately go 2-5 on the day with three RBI.
Although a lead-off double by Ivan Castillo eventually led to a run for Omaha in the fourth, the Wings bullpen would largely take over where Cavalli had left off. Four pitchers would combine to go the rest of the game while giving up just two hits, a walk, and a lone earned run courtesy of a Castillo sacrifice fly in the sixth. Francisco Perez would ultimately be awarded the win.
The Wings were able to get an important insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, as two straight one-out walks and a short single to center by Josh Palacios loaded the bases. After a strikeout, Nick Banks then worked a bases-loaded walk against Sam Freeman to make it 5-2.
Omaha, making its first regular-season appearance in Rochester since 1990, threatened in the top of the ninth by getting two men on, but veteran reliever Tyler Clippard then struck out the next three batters to get the save.
The win was the first time the Wings took the opener of a series since May 24, and LeCroy hopes that will lead to good things going forward.
“Really happy we got this win in Game 1, hopefully we can carry it on and get on a roll,” said LeCroy.
The Red Wings, now 45-40 on the season, remain a game back in the International League East. They return to play on Wednesday, with Carson Teel expected to take the mound to start.
Leave a Reply