Red Wings are no-hit, then fall in extras in doubleheader sweep to Worcester

By Dan Glickman

There were two games played at Innovative Field on Thursday, a result of the previous day’s inclement weather, with the home-standing Rochester Red Wings falling 8-0 in the first game before losing 4-3 in eight innings in game two after a final-inning comeback by Worcester.

It’s likely that the history books will only remember the first game, however, as the Rochester Red Wings (3-13) were no-hit by a combination of three Worcester Red Sox (8-8) pitchers in the first seven-inning game of the doubleheader. Cooper Criswell (4 IP), Isaiah Campbell (2 IP), and Jacob Webb (1 IP) joined forces to hold Rochester hitless for the first time since July 21, 2021, when the Wings were no-hit by three Scranton-Wilkes/Barre RailRiders over nine innings in Scranton.

The no-hitter was the first by any team at Innovative Field since 2019, when T.J. Zeuch of the Buffalo Bisons threw a nine-inning no-no on August 19. It was the Red Sox’ second no-hitter since they moved to Worcester from Pawtucket before the 2021 season.

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It was also the first no-hitter as professionals for Criswell and his teammates.

“Me and Isaiah Campbell were talking about this in the bullpen during the second game,” he said. “We’ve seen maybe one or two, like in the dugout, but this is the first one we’ve been a part of.”

The Wings, who had gone 3-11 entering the game, likely hoped for better results on Thursday as they donned their Rochester Plates alternate identity for the first time all season.

Whatever jersey they were wearing, though, there was a problem: Roman Anthony, the top position player prospect in baseball and the top prospect of any kind currently in the minors, was on the Worcester Red Sox. And on the game’s second pitch, he jumped on a 91.6 MPH fastball from Andrew Alvarez and rocketed it at 107.9 MPH over the centerfield fence for his third home run of the season. It’d be one of two home runs for 20-year-old Floridian, who put an exclamation point on the Worcester offense in game one by lining a grand slam at 106.7 MPH just over the left-field fence to make the score 8-0.

Regardless of how many runs Worcester scored in game one, it was more than enough to beat the Wings, who only threatened to score in the fourth, when they loaded the bases with two outs on two walks and an error before Criswell got first baseman Juan Yepez to fly out. Criswell, who has spent parts of five years in the majors, including 26 games (18 starts) with Boston last season, was pulled after the inning after 63 pitches and four strikeouts. Criswell said the removal wasn’t because of any issues, as it was an early-season workload.

“I haven’t this worked up to what I was last year starting,” he said. “I feel like we’re trying to do it now- get back up. That was the game plan going into the game- four innings, around 60 or 65 pitches.”

With the exception of one or two hard-hit balls that fell foul, the Red Wings never seriously threatened to break up the no-hitter late, with Yepez lining out to end the game just under two hours after it began, bringing about a subdued celebration for the Red Sox.

“I think Kolo (Worcester catcher Mark Kolozsvary) called a great game,” said Criswell. “We all executed when we were out there, but, you know, nothing that you’re going to celebrate too much. It’s kind of awesome, though, and you can enjoy the night and then get right back at it tomorrow.”

A bright spot for the Red Wings came in the Innovative Field debut of right-handed pitcher Tyler Schoff. An Upstate New York native from near Rome who has family in the Rochester area and a sister who played softball for St. John Fisher, the 26-year-old struck out all three Worcester batters he faced in the sixth inning. He’d ultimately throw two perfect innings, striking out four.

“He picked up the pen a little bit for us for tomorrow,” said Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy. “He had a good mix and struck out the side his first inning and then put up another zero. Hopefully, he continues to do that- he’ll move up into more leverage spots.”

The Red Wings, meanwhile, had to try and recover for game two of the doubleheader.

“We had to flush it and come back,” said LeCroy.

For much of the second game, Rochester’s pitching was nearly as impressive as Worcester’s had been in the first game. Konnor Pilkington started and struck out seven hitters in three hitless innings in his first start of the season, and Jack Sinclair followed up with two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. The Wings offense, meanwhile, got on the board in the fourth and fifth on RBI singles from Andrew Pinckney and Drew Millas, respectively, to give them a 2-0 lead going to the seventh and final scheduled inning.

The WooSox were able to get to Wings reliever Patrick Weigel in the seventh, however, with two RBI doubles falling just out of the reach of Red Wings fielders before left fielder Tyler McDonough drove in MLB veteran Yasmani Grandal with a single to right to give Worcester the 3-2 lead. A lead-off triple by Jackson Cluff in the bottom of the seventh set up a two-out RBI single from Brady House to tie it and force extras, but the Red Sox scored a run on an Abraham Toro single in their end of the eighth and then held Rochester off the board in the bottom half for the win.

The Red Wings have lost seven straight and have the worst record in the International League.

“I feel for the guys,” says LeCroy. “They keep grinding and playing hard and competing.”

“A crazy stretch of games, but it’s part of baseball, you got to come out and work your way out of it.”

The Red Wings will have their next opportunity to do so when they continue their series with Worcester on Friday at 1:05 P.M. Right-hander Andry Lara (0-1, 9.26) will face Worcester righty Hunter Dobbins (0-0, 10.80).