Complete team effort guides Wings

BY JONATHAN SKUZA

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After an hour and 16 minute rain delay, the Rochester Red Wings (1-2, 28-47) picked up their first win in the second half of the season with a 6-1 victory over the Syracuse Mets (2-1, 33-44) Friday evening.

”I love what we got,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. “We just have to continue to believe that we can do the job. It was a good team effort and a much needed win for our team.”

Once the showers had subsided and it was time to play ball at Innovative Field, the Red Wings put together a full team effort Friday evening.

The first three innings of the ball game saw both teams threaten to score but neither one could push across a run. It wasn’t until the fourth inning when Rochester broke through the scoreless tie with a base hit RBI from Juan Yepez. Rochester used a throwing error from Syracuse to their advantage, which resulted in Yepez’s RBI.

The following frame, Rochester extended its lead with a Darren Baker sacrifice fly after Nasim Nunez led off the inning with a base hit. Nunez got himself into scoring position by stealing second and moving over on a ground ball.

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The Bronx native two innings later, blasted his first career Triple-A home run into the Syracuse bullpen to give Rochester a four run cushion. It was the switch hitter’s first long ball since September 17, 2023.

”I thought he was under control,” LeCroy said. “ I know mentally he didn’t like where he was left-handed and we had a nice little meeting with the head coaches and helped him shorten up a bit. He’s been working in the cage and tonight he made some nice adjustments and got some big hits for us.”

”It showed me something completely different that we’re not used to seeing and hopefully it continues,” Nunez said.

After Syracuse pushed across it’s first run of the ball game in the top of the eighth struck back for two more runs by capitalizing on multiple wild pitches that brought home Nick Schnell and Andrew Pinckney across the plate. Schnell led off the inning with a double and came around to score when Pinckney reached base on a fielders choice.

On the other side of the ball, Rochester got a strong pitching performance from Chase Solesky who hurled five-plus innings for the Red Wings where he didn’t surrender a run and fanned four Mets.

”Struggled with command at first and it settled me down a little bit and helped me try not to be too perfect,” Solesky said. “My slider was better along with my fastball command and my sinker.”

Rochester‘s bullpen pitched well also by limiting Syracuse to only one run and striking out four batters in the process. Konnor Pilkington we took over for Solesky in the sixth inning, worked himself in and out of a bases loaded jam.

”I think this could be a building block,” LeCroy said. “Every time they go out, they have to execute pitches and have to have the ability to throw quality, strikes, and put people away. I thought we did some nice things and I’m looking forward to how they continue to fight and compete.

”You always have to trust you guys,” Solesky said. “Anytime those guys come in behind me, I trust them.”

Rochester‘s defense has been solid behind its pitching staff, especially in the last eight games where they have turned at least one double play during those contests.

”They work hard every day,” LeCroy said. “ We were capable of what we did in Lehigh Valley and we were able to carry over.”

“The double play hasn’t only just been there, it’s been big for us” Solesky said. “ It’s coming in big situations and big times during the game. It’s gotten us out of bases loaded jams.”

The Rochester Red Wings and Syracuse Mets will play a seven-inning doubleheader on Saturday with the first pitch of game one set for 4:05 p.m. Rightys Cade Cavalli (3-1, 4.03) and Seth Shuman (1-4, 7.17) will take the mound for Rochester in the twin bill while Syracuse’s starters are to be announced.