BY DAN GLICKMAN
Many consider centerfielder James Wood one of the best prospects in baseball. On Thursday, he showed why, going 4-for-5 with two solo home runs as the Rochester Red Wings defeated the Buffalo Bisons, 6-3, in a seven-and-a-half-inning contest shortened by rain. The Marylander finished a triple short of the cycle, scored four runs, made a great defensive play, and stole a bag in the win.
According to Rochester broadcaster Josh Whetzel, Wood is the third Red Wings player since 2005 to have four hits, two home runs, and score at least four times in the same game, and the first since Zander Wiel in 2019. However, he’s believed to be the first and only Red Wing since at least 2005 to have four hits, four runs, two home runs, and a stolen base.
Facing top Blue Jays prospect Ricky Tiedemann, the Red Wings opened scoring in the top of the second on a solo home run by shortstop Jack Dunn, his second of the season. The Bisons responded in their half of the inning, drawing two walks from Jackson Rutledge to put two men on with no outs. Left fielder Cam Eden knocked a shot toward left field for possible extra bases, but Wood came over from center for a diving catch to preserve the lead.
Despite Wood’s defensive heroics, Buffalo still took the lead later in the inning thanks to a two-RBI double by rehabbing catcher Danny Jansen to move ahead, 2-1.
Wood ensured that their lead didn’t last long. In the third, leading off against Tiedemann, the lefty jumped on an 0-1 pitch and sent it over 400 feet, well over the right field fence, to tie the game at two with his first AAA home run.
The centerfielder also played a role in the next Red Wings run, singling to lead off the fifth before stealing second, moving to third on a groundout, and then scoring on a Jake Alu single to put the Wings ahead, 3-2. Wood also scored the following inning, doubling before being one of two to score on a Juan Yepez single to extend the lead to 5-2.
To put an exclamation point on his day, Wood smashed a 96 MPH fastball from Hagen Danner over the center field wall for a 420-foot home run to make the lead 6-3. A few hitters later, the game was suspended due to rain before being called to an early finish for a Red Wings win.
The win moves the Red Wings to 4-5 on the young season, two games back of three teams in the International League North. Right-hander Rico Garcia earned his first win of the season, pitching 1.1 innings of no-hit relief while striking out four. Lefty Richard Bleier notched his first save of the year.
The team continues its series at Buffalo on Friday. First pitch is 6:05 P.M.
There hasn’t been much to cheer about since Washington became our parent. And nobody in this town seems to care much about the Nats. They have no footprint here and the local media is only interested in the Yanks and Mets. Since they shockingly won the World Series, they have been a terrible team and the Wings have been just as bad.
However it does seem that there is some developing talent in the farm system and the Wings may be the beneficiaries. James Wood is the real deal and probably the most talented player to don the Wings uni in several years. What that means in all likelihood as we won’t be seeing him much longer. The woeful Nats will come a-callin any day now and that will be that. And our Red Wings will continue to struggle for another season.
Over in Baltimore (oh how I wish we were still with the O’s) Norfolk is destroying the I.L. The O’s system is loaded for bear. They have a whole lineup of potential stars and already one (Holliday) has been recalled. He is 0-9 so far with a ton of k’s so maybe the jump from AAA to the majors may be premature.But who knows. Last year Colton Cowser had 61 AB’s in his first trial and hit just over .100. This year he has been hitting at a .500 clip and tearing up the AL. Patience.
Anyway..we wish Mr Wood the best, knowing that he will be gone and then mostly forgotten in this town. And our Wings will continue to try and find a way to have a winning season; something that has eluded them for quite awhile. Their last 3 losses have all been by 1 run. And there it is….