BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings (43-29 in second half, 88-57 overall) moved one step closer to the team’s first trip to the postseason since 2013 on Thursday, winning a day game at the Buffalo Bisons (32-37 in the second half, 67-77 overall), 3-1, to lower their magic number to three, with the possibility that the number may decrease further to two depending on what happens in the Indianapolis Indians’ game in Gwinnett on Thursday night.
Rochester largely won on Thursday thanks to pitching and defense, as five Red Wings pitchers combined to hold Buffalo to eight hits and an earned run while catcher Max Romero Jr. threw out three baserunners. The defense also turned four double plays.
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Offensively, the Red Wings took an early lead in the top of the first, as Trey Lipscomb singled with one out. Cayden Wallace followed and worked a 1-1 count against Buffalo starter Richard Gallardo before getting hold of a cutter left high, which he deposited to left for a double that brought Lipscomb around to score and give the Wings the initial 1-0 lead.
The biggest threat of the day from Buffalo came in the bottom of the second, when the Bisons loaded the bases against Isaac Lyon without an out. However, Lyon was able to induce a double play from Lenyn Sosa, and while the runner on third scored to tie the game at one the 22-year-old right-hander was able to strike out Nick Goodwin to end the inning. Lyon ultimately went four innings on the day, allowing five hits and the earned run while walking two and striking out four before being replaced by Eddy Yean. Yean went two innings while allowing three hits and striking out one.
Rochester expanded the lead with a Seaver King single to bring in a run in the fifth and a Leandro Pineda RBI double in the sixth. After that, the bullpen locked down the game, as Gus Varland, Kyle Nicolas, and Justin Lawrence threw a hitless inning each to give Rochester the win.
Yean earned the win in relief to move to 3-2, while Lawrence earned his third AAA save of the season. King, Lipscomb, Wallace, and Pineda all had two hits at the plate, while Liover Peguero and Cortland Lawson also hit safely.
The two teams continue their series on Friday at 6:05 p.m. Rochester expects to send out Washington Nationals No. 3 prospect Jarlin Susana out for his first AAA start, while fellow righty CJ Van Eyk will start for Buffalo.
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