BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings split a doubleheader at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Wednesday, taking the opener 7-4 before getting walked-off in the second, 4-3.
The opening victory, which snapped a five-game losing streak, came courtesy largely thanks to the bats of center fielder Robert Hassell III and catcher Drew Millas. Millas went 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a bases-loaded triple in the top of the second to tie the game, 3-3.
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The Wings took the lead for good in the fourth when Scranton catcher Alex Jackson, who had earlier hit a three-run homer for the Yankee affiliate, threw away what would have been a sacrifice bunt by Jackson Cluff, allowing Darren Baker and Andrew Pinckney to score to extend the lead to 5-3. Hassell III then singled to left to score Cluff. The center fielder ultimately went 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored while stealing two bases.
Scranton scored a run in the seventh and final inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Wings took the win. Konnor Pilkington earned the win in relief to move to 1-2 on the year.
In game two, the two squads traded runs for much of the contest, with Scranton jumping ahead with two runs in the bottom of the second before Rochester scored two in the top of the third on an Andrew Pinckney’s first home run of the season. Both squads scored a run in the sixth, but ultimately Scranton walked it off with a bases-loaded single from Dominic Smith with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
Rochester (3-7) looks to move ahead in its series with Scranton on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. Righty Andry Lara (0-1, 12.91) starts for the Red Wings against Scranton right-hander Jake Woodford (0-0, 3.00).
Bumbling Wings gave away the 2nd game of a double header they had to sweep after the disaster that was the opening homestand. Wings defense has been little league and the pitching has been typically poor for the Washington farm team.
The slow start in so many areas has been disappointing. Wings do have some hitters. They had some last year too, but poor pitching and poor defense usually can’t get it done no matter how good the bats are.
3 wins in 10 games isn’t a way to inspire anyone so far.
Wings continue to invent new ways to blow games. Rallied for 3 in the 9th but should have had more. Took the lead in the 11th but then gave up a 2 out pinch hit game winning HR and there you are 3-11 and one of the more miserable starts for the Wings in recent years.
At the moment, this is a bad team. It has no pitching. Poor defense and spotty offense. Pretty soon it will be too late to dig out of this miserable start. Washington has done little to improve their system-wide pitching mess.
Wow.
You can’t make this stuff up. The Red Wings found a new way to compete the circus clowns this afternoon. After coughing up the 2-1 lead in the 6th inning of the double header, in the bottom of the 7th, tie game, no one on….a two out walk and then a routine pop up which ended….no wait…it drops in as nobody catches it. Runner moving the whole time tries to score. Throw to the plate beats him by a mile…and he jumps over the catcher, who someone misses the tag and the game is over.
This team is a complete mess. I’m a fan so I get to say it. They are unwatchable.