BY DAN GLICKMAN
On the night that Rochester’s own Thomas Bryant represented the home squad before Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Rochester Red Wings moved their winning streak to three in Lehigh Valley, beating the IronPigs 6-1.
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Thursday’s win, coming one night after a 4-0 shutout win, continues the Wings’ hot streak after they lost 12 straight. Right fielder Nick Schnell led the way offensively for Rochester (25-45), knocking a two-run home run in the sixth to make it 3-0 before adding insurance with a two-run single up the middle in the ninth.
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Catcher Drew Millas opened scoring in the first with a solo shot against Nabil Crismatt, part of a 3-for-5 night. Third baseman Yohandy Morales doubled twice and scored three times, while Jackson Cluff recorded an RBI double in the eighth.
On the mound, Chase Solesky earned the win with 5.1 innings of work, allowing four hits and an earned run off a bases-loaded wild pitch while striking out four. Four Red Wings followed, going 4.2 innings of scoreless ball while allowing two hits.
While the Red Wings are long out of playoff contention for the first half of the International League split-season, their current win streak and how they do the rest of this half-ending series could prove pivotal. By losing all six games to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp last week and then winning the first three games against Lehigh Valley (46-26), Rochester has pushed the IronPigs’ lead for the first-half title to just a half-game. Jacksonville was leading a game in Syracuse, 3-0 in the first inning, when it was suspended on Thursday due to rain.
The Red Wings aim to further spoil the IronPigs’ playoff chances on Friday at 7:05 p.m. Righty Cade Cavalli is set to start for Rochester.
Given this horrible 1st half, it does feel good seeing the Wings spoil Lehigh’s chances of winning the 1st half. They have been a thorn in our side for so many seasons. I’d love to see us win out now and maybe get some momentum into the 2nd half.
I’m not counting on it though…but these last 3 games have been sweet!