BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings used a five-run first to propel them to their first win of the 2025 International League season on Saturday, beating the Buffalo Bisons, 8-3, in a game called in the eighth inning due to rain.
All five runs of the Red Wings’ first came with two outs, when Buffalo starter Trenton Wallace walked Rochester left fielder Andrew Pinckney with the bases loaded before allowing an RBI single to second baseman Trey Lipscomb, another bases-loaded walk to catcher Andrew Knizner and then a two-RBI single to shortstop Nasim Nunez to give the Wings the early 5-0 lead.
Buffalo cut into Rochester’s lead with a two-run home run by third baseman Addison Barger in the bottom of the second to make it 5-2, but Wings’ right-hander Andry Lara, making his AAA debut, was able to escape the first without any further damage. The Venezuelan 22-year-old, currently ranked as the No. 17 prospect in the Nationals organization by MLB.com Pipeline, ultimately went four innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out two.
Rochester extended its lead in the sixth when Lipscomb stole second with one out, then advanced to third thanks to a throwing error on the steal by Buffalo catcher Christian Bethancourt. Knizner then brought him home, grabbing hold of a 1-2 slider from Kevin Gowdy to extend the lead to 6-2. Lipscomb put another run on the board in the seventh with his bat, singling in first baseman Juan Yepez with two outs to add to the Red Wings lead and make it 7-2. The Wings added an additional run in the eighth thanks to a bases-loaded walk.
The Bisons threatened in the bottom of the eighth, scoring a run off a wild pitch by Rochester’s Clay Helvey to cut the lead to 8-3 and getting men to second and third. However, after a Helvey strikeout of Barger, the skies opened up, sending the game into a delay that ultimately never left. The game was ultimately called 56 minutes later, giving the Wings the win.
Lipscomb led the team at the plate with a 3-for-4 game, recording two RBI and two runs scored with a stolen base. Knizner went 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, and a strikeout. Nunez had a 2-for-4 day with two RBI, a steal, and a run scored. Right-hander Jackson Rutledge earned the win (1-0) for two innings of no-hit relief, striking out four while walking one.
Rochester (1-1) finishes its season-opening series in Buffalo on Sunday at 1:05 p.m., with left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara making his first start in the United States. Buffalo will counter with a lefty of their own, Easton Lucas.
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