The Rochester Red Wings are over .500 for the first time this season, thanks to a doubleheader sweep over the Buffalo Bisons on Saturday. Rochester won the first game, 8-2, before edging out Buffalo in the nightcap, 6-5, in nine innings. The wins move them to 6-5 for 2024.
The first game was historic for Rochester, as the team combined to steal eight total bases, the most for a Red Wings team since an August 21, 1992 contest against Toledo. Center field prospect James Wood led the team with three, followed by second baseman Darren Baker with two. Shortstop Jack Dunn, right fielder Travis Blankenhorn, and first baseman Juan Yepez also stole bags. Dunn’s stolen base was of home, on a double-steal in the fifth. The team’s stolen base achievement was especially remarkable, considering that doubleheader games are seven innings, not the traditional nine.
The speed game started in the first inning when Baker reached first on an infield single before stealing second. Wood moved him over with a groundout, and he scored when Yepez hit a single off the glove of rehabbing Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah to give the Wings the 1-0 lead.
Buffalo responded with two runs of their own in the second inning to take the 2-1 lead, but Rochester took the lead back in the third after an RBI single by Yepez, and then a sacrifice fly from left fielder Jake Alu. Ahead 3-2, the Red Wings wouldn’t trail again, scoring once in the fourth and fifth before scoring three runs in the seventh, including two on bases-loaded walks.
DJ Herz started for Rochester and went 3.1 innings for a no-decision, striking out five and allowing just two hits but walking five. Adonis Medina earned the win in relief, allowing one hit in 1.2 innings played.
In game two, the Red Wings took the early lead thanks to a solo home run by right fielder Alex Call, making it 1-0. The Wings extended their lead to 4-0 the following inning, but the Bisons rallied with one in the fifth and three in the sixth to make it 4-4.
With the game tied after seven, the two sides went into extra innings until the Red Wings finally broke through in the ninth. Alex Call again reached the seats with a two-run home run to left to put the Wings ahead, 6-4. Buffalo cut the lead to one with an RBI single by Nathan Lukes, but Wings catcher Drew Millas caught Lukes trying to steal second soon after before Damiano Palmegiani flew out to Alu to end the game.
Rico Garcia earned the win in relief with two innings of scoreless and hitless ball, striking out three for his second victory of the season. Tim Cate got the save, his first.
The Red Wings conclude their series with Buffalo on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. before returning to Rochester to begin a series with Toledo on Tuesday.
I’d love to see this team excel in the running game. Steals generate offense and Wings have historically never been a ‘fast’ team. So I hope they keep this up.