BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y.– The Rochester Red Wings’ struggles against Omaha continued Friday night as the Storm Chasers used a three-run sixth inning in a 4-2 victory.
“Tonight we just didn’t do it enough,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy stated. “It’s hard to win when you don’t get it done with runners in scoring position.”
After Rochester tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fifth, Omaha answered with its big inning pushing across three runs on four base hits. Kyle Isbel singled to center field to score Tucker Bradley who singled to lead off the inning. Logan Porter added to the lead with an RBI base hit up the middle for his second in as many days after a Tyler Gentry sacrifice bunt that moved Isbel and Brewer Hicklen into scoring position. Hicklen scored on the Porter base hit. Isbel scored on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt of Porter at first base.
Isbel led off the fourth inning by hitting a solo home run in a 3-2 count to open up the scoring in the ballgame.
Rochester struggled to get the offense going by only being able to tally five hits Friday. Rochester grounded into two double plays and left the bases loaded in the sixth inning in a tied ballgame.
“I just think it’s getting a better pitch,” LeCroy stated about the offensive struggles on Friday. “I think we went out of the zone at times. We just didn’t get our pitch to hit in key situations. We didn’t execute.”
After Isbel’s home run in the fourth, Rochester tied the game on a sacrifice fly from Alex Call with the bases loaded and one out. The Red Wing’s second run came in the final inning during a small rally. Drew Millas led the inning off with a triple to get the home fans excited. Two batters later, Jordy Barley scored Millas after grounding out to third base. The Rochester rally was short-lived as the Wings were defeated for the third day in a row.
Despite the losing effort, Barley showed on the defensive side of the ball why he made the jump from Single-A to Triple-A. The Dominican-born shortstop had three assists and grabbed a pair of line drives to keep the game within striking distance.
“My focus and being ready for the play,” the 23-year-old said.
“He can play shortstop in the big leagues,” LeCroy said. “He’s very athletic. It’s just the offense is got to get better for him. Some more experience with some more at-bats at the higher level. He’s competed well, he’s had some good at-bats a times.”
Righty Joan Adon struck out four in a six-inning outing for Rochester. After Adon surrendered the homer to Isbel, he set down the next six batters between the fourth and fifth inning. The right-hander struggled to get through the sixth but was able to get out of the inning after surrendering three runs. Tyler Danish and Amos Willingham pitched the final three innings for Rochester. The two bullpen arms were able to limit the Omaha offense to one hit and two walks while also striking out four Storm Chasers. Danish extended his no earned run streak to five games.
Rochester (33-38, fifth in the IL East, 14 games back of Norfolk Tides) and Omaha (37-33, fifth in the IL West, 9.5 games back of Iowa Cubs) will continue the series on Saturday at 6:45 PM. The Red Wings will send southpaw Anthony Banda (0-0, 7.29). The Storm Chasers starter is to be announced.
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