BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings returned to the win column on Friday night at the Norfolk Tides, as four runs late gave them their first win after opening the series with three losses.
Left fielder Trey Lipscomb led the way for the Red Wings (43-66, 16-21 in the second half), singling in the top of the fifth to put the team ahead 4-3 before hitting a three-run home run to left in the seventh to extend the lead to 7-3.
Earlier in the game, the Wings jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second thanks to a two-out double by shortstop Nasim Nunez, but Norfolk (44-64, 14-21 in the second half) stormed back in the bottom part of the inning to take 3-2 lead. Andrew Pinckney evened it up at three in the top of the third, though, with a two-out single. Lipscomb’s two hits would put the Wings ahead for good, with a groundout RBI by the rehabbing Dylan Crews adding an insurance run in the eighth.
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On the mound, Andry Lara earned the win in relief of Joan Adon, throwing two hitless while striking out two. Parker Dunshee followed with two hitless, and then Garrett Davila and Eduardo Salazar followed with a hitless inning each. The Tides put up a run against Ryan Loutos in the ninth, but the Red Wings held on.
Nunez, Pinckney, and Andres Chaparro each had two hits.
The Red Wings continue their series at Norfolk on Saturday at 6:35, with lefty Andrew Alvarez set to take the mound against Norfolk’s right-hander Thaddeus Ward, a former Red Wing himself.
…and then last night. Ugh. Just when you think its OK to start caring about the Red Wings again, this ugly series of games with Norfolk surfaces. Two blowouts and two 1 run losses that have exposed every single flaw this team has had. Poor defense, non-existent pitching and even hitting that can disappear in a flash.
After the ‘d’ and the pitchers yielded 6 unearned runs and blew 6-2 and 7-6 leads, the last 5 outs from the Wings hitters were k’s. (they needed just 1 run)
It was embarrassing to watch. Dylan Crews casually letting a routine single turn into a 2 run error with the tying run perched at 3rd. A poorly played one hopper helped fuel the game tying and game winning hit…with a 2 strike count.
All season, this team has demonstrated how to lose games that they should have won. The entire Nationals organization is a hot mess with both Wings and Nats looking pretty much like bottom feeders.
Watching the Red Wings is not good for the heart (if you are a fan) If you don’t care, it can be amusing to sit back and wonder how they will lose another game.
Most the runs scored with 2 outs for Norfolk. Wings do not have a shut down pitcher in their pen. Not a single one is remotely reliable. All season. Pretty soon it will legitimately be time to say flush the season and pray for something better next year.
the Beatles sang ‘I have to admit its getting better (can’t get no worse) When can we expect the 1st because the 2nd is still a work in progress
Well the series ended the way I figured. A blowout, uninspired loss. Wings have been lousy all season but occasionally they would draw you back in with a few good games. Then a series like this one, against an equally as bad team (but with 2 superstars that should be in Baltimore, but for their ridiculous ownership group)
Wings have had some decent hitters along the way, but they just can’t overcome non-existent pitching and poor ‘d’. Even the biggest optimist and/or Wing apologist, forced to say good things, has to admit the pitching staff especially the bullpen has been the worst collection of incompetents in many decades here. When team ERA teeters around 6.00 you know you are especially bad.
The Nationals fans are armed with the torches and pitchforks this year. ‘Sell the team’ echos from every corner. they won’t lose as many as the Rockies, but they are doomed to finish last in the NL East, on merit. Nats have delivered a bogus crop of arms that couldn’t win at AA this year.
Be honest, even when the Wings are ahead by more than 1 run late, does any true Wings fan feel confident that they will deliver the ‘W’? If you love going to Frontier (yeah, I know) to see the opponent win, you will be entertained.
This last series was a poster child for what ails this team. All aspects of the game failed just about every night. Even our hitters. Last 5 outs yesterday were k’s..in a 1 run game. Season needs to be over. It really does. And for over 6 decades I have hung on to the bitter end not wanting baseball to go away.