BY JONATHAN SKUZA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After a 75-minute rain delay, the Rochester offense was only able to produce two hits as the Red Wings (42-26) feel 2-1 to the Toledo Mud Hens (32-37) Tuesday evening.
”It was just one of those nights, we couldn’t get things to go our way offensively,” Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. “These are all going to be tight games, and we need to find ways to push people across.”
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Rochester’s two hits came off the bats of Harry Ford who collected a base hit in the second and a solo home run from Trey Lipscomb in the sixth. Lipscomb blasted his 12th long ball of the season on the first pitch he saw and sent it over the left field wall.
”That’s his 12th homer out of the nine hole,” LeCroy said. “That’s pretty good. He’s been a big piece there for us. He got us within range.”
The Red Wing offense struggled to get anything going outside of the two hits as produced two walks in eighth inning, but nothing came of them. They were set down in order six times in Tuesday’s contest.
”We chased balls that we were looking for early,” LeCroy said. “We did hit some balls really good, but we just have t be more patient. You gotta tip your cap, they did a good job of pitching and kept us from really getting going offensively.”
Toledo got it’s run support from Andrew Navigato who hit a solo home run in the third inning after a long at-bat and scored on a Ben Malgeri RBI base hit in the fifth.
On the defensive side of the ball, Rochester was solid. Jackson Kent gave Rochester four and two-thirds innings of work where he fanned six Mud Hens while giving up two runs on two hits and two walks.
”He’s not scared,” LeCroy said. “That’s the about him [Kent], he’s not scared at all. He’s gonna challenge and he knows how to miss bats. The biggest thing for me is he’s not afraid to get hit. He pitches with confidence.”
Rochester’s bullpen kept Toledo off the board while fanning three and giving up three hits.
Rochester also turned a great double play to end the ninth inning as Seaver King caught a line drive and threw out Toledo’s Max Anderson at third to give Rochester what looked like some momentum as they looked to send the 4,868 attendance home happy, but fell short.
With the loss and a Memphis RedBirds (44-26) victory, Rochester now sits one game back of first place in the International League. The Red Wings are hoping to clinch their first playoff berth since 2013.
The Rochester Red Wings and Toledo Mud Hens will continue their series on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. as righty Luis Perales (1-4, 3.57) will take the mound for Rochester while right-hander Ty Madden (2-0, 4.26) will toe the slab for Toledo.
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