BY DAN GLICKMAN
Corner infielder Yohandy Morales, better known as “Yoyo”, was one of two Rochester Red Wings called up to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday as Major League Baseball rosters expanded. It was considered by many observers to be a well-earned promotion for the Miami-born slugger, who sits fourth in the International League in home runs (25) and RBI (76). Morales had become a fan favorite in Rochester, and may already be on the way to becoming one in Washington as well – he went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run in the Nationals’ 9-5 win over Atlanta on Tuesday. If this is the end of his time with Rochester permanently, he leaves the Flower City with a .268/.347/.461 slash line (batting average/on-base-percentage/slugging) and an .805 OPS across parts of two seasons, to go along with 40 doubles, 36 home runs, 125 RBI, and 125 RBI in 888 plate appearances (787 at-bats).
Besides Morales, the Nationals also called up relief pitcher Jared Simpson. The left-hander from Iowa had impressed with Rochester after getting called up from AA Harrisburg, notching a 2.84 ERA over 19 innings pitched. He earned the win in his MLB debut on Tuesday, throwing three perfect innings while striking out three.
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The Red Wings (35-23 in the second half, 80-51 overall) continued play in AAA even without Morales and Simpson, however, beginning a series in Syracuse against the Mets (31-26 in the first half, 69-63 overall). Despite home runs by Cayden Wallace, Phillip Glasser, and Liover Peguero, Rochester fell short in the series opener, 7-4.
Rochester fell behind early, as the Mets scored six runs in the first three innings, all of them – including three home runs – credited to rehabbing pitcher DJ Herz. Although the three home runs helped the Red Wings cut the lead down to 5-4, a late two-run home run by Hayden Senger in the 8th brought about the loss.
Despite the defeat, the Red Wings remain in first in the International League second-half playoff race, as their nearest competitor, the Indianapolis Indians, lost their series opener in Toledo, 9-7.
Game two of the six-game series is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:35 p.m., with Rochester expected to send out Jack Cebert in his second AAA start while Syracuse puts Xzavion Curry on the mound.
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