BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings’ early-season struggles continued over the weekend against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders. They lost 8-7 in the 11th inning on Friday before falling in both ends of a doubleheader on Sunday, 3-2 and 8-0.
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The Red Wings are now 3-10 after going 1-4 in Scranton. Saturday’s game was postponed to May 7 due to inclement weather. Thursday’s game was also rained out, but it was made up on Sunday as part of the doubleheader.
The Friday loss came about despite a comeback by the Red Wings. Down 6-3 heading into the top of the ninth, a double by third baseman Brady House and a single by designated Drew Millas cut the lead to one before catcher Andrew Knizner later drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to tie it up at 6-6. The Wings were unable to add another run, however, sending them to extra innings. Although Rochester took the 7-6 lead in the top of the 11th when left fielder Franchy Cordero drew a walk, it wasn’t enough: the Railriders walked the Wings off with a pinch-hit two-run home run by Ronaldo Hernandez in the bottom frame to bring about the 8-7 final.
The first game of Sunday’s doubleheader was also a walk-off loss for the Red Wings, as the Railriders tied it up in the sixth on a Jose Rojas home run before winning it in the bottom of the seventh and final inning on a two-out RBI single by Jorbit Vivas that made it 3-2. Left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara pitched five innings in the no-decision for Rochester, allowing two hits and an earned run. Left fielder Trey Lipscomb hit safely twice, and catcher Drew Millas doubled in a run.
Rochester’s bats were held off almost entirely in the series’ final game, with only an Andrew Knizner third-inning single spoiling Scranton’s attempt at a three-pitcher no-hitter.
The Red Wings return to Rochester starting Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. to begin a six-game series with the Worcester Red Sox. Right-hander Chase Solesky (0-0, 5.68) takes the mound for the Red Wings against a rehabbing Lucas Giolito for Worcester. Giolito, a 2019 All-Star who threw a no-hitter in 2020, is working his way back to the Red Sox after missing all last season after a UCL injury.
The 2025 Wings are now in 20th place in a 20 team league…on merit. The losses have been ugly. No facet of their game is working right now. Saying they lost the first game of yesterdays’ DH on a two out RBI single is ignoring the real story of a completely botched play. All you could do was laugh watching it unfold.
Normally I would focus on the once again this year terrible pitching, but it would be unfair to pin it all on them. The ‘d’ has been shoddy and the hitting isn’t getting the job done either.
3-10 is a tough hole to dig out of, even though its early. I’m merely a fan so I don’t have to sugar coat it. Who is gonna want to sit out in the cold and watch these guys play little league baseball?
Do better Red Wings. (and Washington.. we’re stuck with you so step up please)
After gift-wrapping game one, is it any wonder they just didn’t bother to show up in game two on a pretty raw day in Scanton…in front of mostly empty seats.
Josh is totally right…why can’t the league schedule us for some games in the south in April…like all the other northern teams? Why???