BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings lost their fifth straight game on Wednesday, falling at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 5-1.
The loss knocks the Red Wings (68-58 overall, 30-23 in the second half, 5.5 games back in the International League second half) out of the top spot in the second half International League East, putting them a half-game back of not only Scranton (73-53, 30-22 in the second half) but also the Worcester Red Sox.
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The Red Wings took an early lead, as left-fielder Darren Baker extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a leadoff single before stealing second and then getting knocked in by third baseman Brady House to make it 1-0.
That would prove the only run the Wings would score all night, however, and the RailRiders tied it up and then took the lead in the bottom of the second with a four-run inning, including home runs by Taylor Trammell and Caleb Durbin. Scranton added another in the sixth on a balk.
Baker led the Wings at the plate with a 2-for-4 night, while House and first baseman Trey Lipscomb had the other two hits for the Wings. Zach Brzykcy and Ty Tice threw an inning-and-a-third and an inning of no-hit ball.
Rochester looks to get back into the win column on Thursday at 6:35 P.M. Righty Jackson Rutledge (4-8, 7.06 ERA) takes the mound for Rochester against Scranton righty Yoendrys Gomez (2-4, 3.97 ERA).
While I was away, the real Red Wings (sadly) showed up. Team Tease has fallen apart at the seams and the real culprit has been their main problem all season…no pitching. You can’t win with this kind of pitching staff, at any level of professional ball.
Yeah, the Gnats recalled Crews and Millas, which really hurt the lineup, and all the ‘experts’ are lauding the Gnats as the next team of the future. Well, the organization has no pitching so don’t plan the parade. Yeah again, some of the prospects (non-pitching) have great promise, but as we have watched the demise of the Red Wings this past week, its pretty clear what the main problem is.
It was only a week ago these guys were 1.5 out of first and knocking at the door. Suddenly here comes the longest, and ugliest losing streak of the season and poof, its all over but playing out the string. The only ‘close’ game of the last 5 was the 2-1 9th inning loss where the pen failed miserably to ruin the only decent start of any Wings pitcher recently.
The tease was nice for awhile, but the reality is, the Red Wings can’t win with beer league pitching. Unless the Gnats fix that, its business as usual for the Wings, and that business has been another disappointing season. Not Tom Nieto disappointing but discouraging at the core…again.
Wings had managed all season to avoid the long losing streak. That it comes now is aggravating for the baseball fan of the Rochester Red Wings. And discouraging that this could have been a shining moment.
Are we happy for Wood, Crews, Yepez, Millas, Call and the rest who have gone up (and not really made any difference to a team that has been hopelessly out of contention all season) We can be, because thats the goal ultimately. But along the way, winning is kinda nice too; and without any arms to carry the load, winning is a pipe dream for this organization.
OK I’ve had my say. My feelings about the Gnats has not changed. thought maybe, possibly, hopefully….but no. Nothing has moved the needle. Barn door open, horses all have run away. Bring on hockey and football.
The 5 or 6 local fans who cheer on the Gnats can clap their hands that a few decent prospects have made their way to Washington this season and thats fine.