BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The 2025 Rochester Red Wings season isn’t over, but the home part of it is, as the club concluded its slate at Innovative Field on Sunday, defeating the Buffalo Bisons 5-4 by holding on in the ninth.
Such finale games, especially if the Red Wings are out of contention, have a familiar schedule. Much like how Opening Day has speakers from the city and county, lengthy player introductions, and a special first pitch, the final home game has its own traditions. A fan tribute video plays, Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason thanks workers and promises it will be at least 50 degrees at game time next Opening Day (which will be in 198 days), and, of course, end-of-year awards are given out.
This season was no different. Chase Solesky was named “Most Civic-Minded,” Darren Baker won “Most Popular” for the third straight season, and outfielder Andrew Pinckney earned MVP honors for having the first 20 home run, 30 stolen bases season in franchise history. In addition, manager Matt LeCroy was honored for a season that saw him win his 300th game with the club.
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Two of those three players made an impact on Sunday, and Pinckney only couldn’t because of injury. Baker had two hits, including a RBI single in the second and a double later in the game. Solesky, meanwhile, earned the win on the day to move to 6-5 on the season, going five-plus innings while allowing two earned runs on five hits, striking out three. The lone runs given up were a first-inning single by Leo Jimenez, and a Dasan Brown home run to lead off the sixth shortly before Solesky was replaced by Garrett Davila.
The win was a bit ironic, given how he was feeling going in.
“It was the last home start of the year, and and probably the worst I felt for a home start all year,” he said. “I didn’t sleep well last night, so I went out there, gave what I had in the first inning, which was a little unfortunate. Sixth inning was unfortunate, but the guys swung the bats and gave me some run support. I just did my best.”
“He’s been one of the most consistent guys that we’ve relied on all season long, a guy that’s figured out some ways to get people out,” said LeCroy. “He’s made two good starts here this week, so he’s put himself in a good position to come back next year.”
Although Jimenez’s first inning single put the Red Wings in an early 1-0 hole, they didn’t remain behind for long. In the bottom of the first, Yohandy Morales reached on an error, and the following batter- center fielder Nick Schnell- worked a 1-2 count before finding a curveball by CJ Van Eyk and launching it to center at 110.9 MPH for a go-ahead home run. The homer was the Indianan’s 21st at the AAA level on the year, moving him ahead of Pinckney for the team lead and giving Rochester a 2-1 lead.
Despite Schnell’s track record, he almost wasn’t in the lineup after a five-strikeout night on Saturday.
“I thought he had a rough night last night, with the strikeouts,” said LeCroy. “I kept thinking maybe I should give him off, because I know he’s been grinding, but it only takes one good swing to get [a slump] out of you.”
The 2-1 lead grew in the coming innings, with Baker’s RBI single upping it to 3-1 in the second, and then RBI singles from Phillip Glasser and Juan Yepez extended the lead to 5-1.
After that, it was a case of holding on, especially after Brown’s home run in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-2 and Solesky’s subsequent exit. The Red Wings’ bullpen had had trouble holding leads all season, and Buffalo chipped away, scoring one run on a wild pitch in the eighth before Julian Fernandez was able to escape a bases-loaded jam. They then cut it to one, 5-4, on a one-out Brandon Valenzuela home run in the ninth, but Eduardo Salazar put out the next two batters to end the game with a Red Wings victory.
Beyond ending the series with a win and finishing it tied 3-3 overall, it broke a streak of one-run losses on Friday and Saturday, a bounce-back that LeCroy noted.
“I’m really proud of the guys after a couple of tough losses, to be able to come back and split the series,” he said.
The season isn’t over yet, though: Rochester’s final series of the season starts on Tuesday in Worcester against the Red Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
saying goodbye to another home season, no matter the record, is bittersweet to any longtime fan of the Red Wings. As a young kid in 1959, enjoying pro ball for the first time at Red Wing Stadium, I was fortunate to have families that took me to see games and I loved every minute. We were a farm team of the Cardinals back then. Teams like Toronto, Montreal, Miami, Havana, Richmond, Columbus and Buffalo made up the IL back then.
Thru the years Red Wings teams have both excited and disappointed me. Some of the players who donned the uni were instantly forgettable while others went on to fabulous big league careers.
I love being a Red Wing fan. I don’t love when they have seasons like this one.I don’t love what MLB has done to AAA baseball. I don’t love being with a parent team that has no little to do with our city. I have utmost respect for our beleaguered manager who has endured a lot of bad baseball. I can’t think of a better broadcaster anywhere than Josh. He manages to make even the most hopeless game something interesting to listen to. Rochester is so fortunate to have two titans to represent our pro teams is Josh and Don Stevens for the Amerks.
It was nice to win that last home game. It was also nice to see Schnell hit that 1st inning HR after fanning all 5 times the night before and making a crucial error. I’m sure the crowd Sunday was held down by folks watching the Bills game, but a near 11.000 turned out Saturday night. Despite the terrible year, the attendance wasn’t too bad.
And props to hard working Dan Mason and his staff for that. One day maybe we will have that magical team again, that is the class of the league. We’ve waiting a long time. Our parent team is the 3rd worse in MLB. They have major hills to climb. Biggest need is pitching, which will be obvious by anyone following the Red Wings this year.
Someone I’m sure could break down the ERA of our bullpen this season and it wouldn’t shock me if it were between 6.50 and 7.00. It has been a mess since day 1.
Still. closing down the park is sad. Knowing that it will sit silent for nearly 200 days is a long wait. Love them or hate them, we will miss them. Every year since shortly after the Civil War, there has been pro baseball in this town. Its in our blood, our DNA. May it always be so.