BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The start of Wednesday morning’s game against the Columbus Clippers was not promising for Cade Cavalli or the Rochester Red Wings.
Columbus center fielder Peter Halpin had started the game by singling through the right side, and then Cavalli walked shortstop Brayan Rocchio. Designated hitter David Fry – on rehab for the Cleveland Guardians – then had a broken-bat single that landed in just the right part of the infield where an effective defensive play was impossible.
And then, the tide turned. Cleveland No. 2 prospect Chase DeLauter went down swinging at an 87.9 MPH changeup, C.J. Kayfus fell swinging at a curveball, and finally, Dom Nunez went down looking on a changeup that had been initially called a ball before being overturned on challenge. Facing a bases-loaded situation, Cavalli had struck out three straight to escape.
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“He backed off and got some really big strikeouts,” said Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy post-game. “The first guy, especially, was really big. It gave him a little breathing room. But he made pitches, and after that he cruised through that lineup pretty well.”
It set the tone for what would be the Red Wings (18-33) third straight win, 5-0, and seventh victory in their last 10 games. Two-run home runs in the first and seventh innings from Andres Chaparro and and J.T. Arruda, respectively, plus an RBI single from Nick Schnell in the second, provided the offense. Chapparo’s home run in the bottom of the first- a golfed 1-1 fastball left down that the Venezuelan sent 395 feet over the left-field fence- was especially important, according to LeCroy, because it gave the Wings an early lead.
“[Columbus] had had the momentum, but then Cade had the three big strikeouts, and then we got that big homer by Chappy, and I think that gave us a really nice boost of momentum,” he said.
Aside from a leadoff double for second baseman Milan Tolentino in the second and a sacrifice bunt that moved him to third, the Clippers (22-28) never seriously threatened Cavalli after the first, as the 26-year-old Oklahoman threw a dominant five innings, striking out 10 while allowing three hits and a walk. He retired the last 12 he faced before leaving at the end of the fifth with 70 pitches, 51 of them for strikes. The right-hander would have likely continued but is on a strict work management limit that today limited him to either five innings or 80 pitches, whatever came first, according to LeCroy.
Cavalli, still working his way back from surgery for a UCL sprain in 2023, was unavailable post-game. But his manager spoke for many with his praise of the day’s performance:
“I’m really pleased with what he’s doing right now,” LeCroy said.
In a change of pace from issues that plagued the Red Wings earlier in the season, the bullpen held on as Carlos Romero, Parker Dunshee, Patrick Weigel, and Marquis Grissom Jr. all threw an inning of scoreless relief each. The combined shutout was the first for the Red Wings this season.
“All of them down there in the bullpen seem to be progressing in a good direction,” LeCroy observed. “And when you pitch well, you’ve got chances to win games.”
Rochester’s series with Columbus continues on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. Rochester right-hander Seth Shuman (1-2, 4.88) is scheduled to face Columbus righty Aaron Davenport (0-0, 27.00).
The game is a “Plates Night,” with the Red Wings donning their alternate “Rochester Plates” identity and Rochester Plates flags set to be given away to the first 1,000 fans.
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