Indians Defeat Wings 5-2
May 26, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
The Red Wings fell to the Indianapolis Indians Thursday afternoon at Frontier Field, 5-2. The loss drops the second place Wings to a game behind Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, pending the result of the RailRiders game Thursday night.
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The Red Wings got off to a shaky start in the top of the first. Jose Berrios took the mound for Rochester in what was an uncharacteristic performance for the starter. Prior to today's game, Berrios was 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA at Frontier Field this season. The Indians notched a single and a double in order to obtain the first run of the game. With just one out in the first, Indianapolis capitalized on two fielding errors to notch their second run of the game. Despite having Indianapolis runners on second and third, Rochester was able to work itself out of the jam.
In the bottom of the first, lead-off hitter Byron Buxton put up the first tally of the game against Kuhl, and drove a homer over the left field wall, his sixth of the season. Next up, Eddie Rosario hit a ground-rule double, giving the Red Wings an opportunity to tie up the game. Unfortunately, a strikeout, a popout and a groundout ended the inning for Rochester. The Red Wings trailed the Indians 2-1 moving into the second inning.
Max Moroff kicked off the top of the third inning with a ground-rule double for the Indians, extending his hitting streak to five games. A sacrifice bunt and an RBI single were enough to bring Moroff home, giving Indianapolis a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Red Wings committed their third error of the game, giving Indianapolis baserunners on second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly brought in the Indians' fourth run of the game. Fortunately, Berrios settled down and was able to put away the next three batters to finish the inning.
Kuhl entered play Thursday with the lowest ERA of any qualifying pitcher in Triple-A, at 0.99 after eight starts and 45.2 innings pitched. Through six innings Thursday, Kuhl had allowed five hits and no walks, while striking out six.
Berrios worked six innings and allowed seven hits, four runs (two earned), and two walks with one strikeout. He threw 84 pitches, 56 for strikes. Marcus Walden relieved Berrios to start the seventh inning. Walden fanned the first two batters, and forced a groundout to secure the third out of the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Buck Britton lined a single to get the momentum started for the Red Wings. Unfortunately, Kuhl shut out the Red Wings once again with a strikeout and two flyouts.
In the top of the eighth, Josh Bell walked and the Indians converted the walk into a run. Willy Garcia hit a double that brought Bell home, giving Indianapolis a 5-1 lead.. The double prompted a pitching change for Rochester, bringing in Ryan O'Rourke to relieve Walden. O'Rourke gave up a single which allowed Garcia to advance to third base. With two outs and runners on first and third, Garcia was picked off in a stealing attempt for the third out of the inning.
Walden pitched 1.2 innings and gave up one hit, one run, one walk and two strikeouts.
Cory Luebke took the mound for Indianapolis in the bottom of the eighth, relieving Kuhl. With one out, Buxton struck again and utilized his speed in order to make his way to third base for a triple. Rosario grounded out, permitting Buxton to cross the plate lessening the Indians' lead to three runs with a score of 5-2.
Kuhl pitched seven innings and gave up six hits, one run, no walks, seven strikeouts and one home run. He threw 97 pitches, 63 for strikes.
With a runner on third, O'Rourke made a beautiful play in the top of the ninth; he dove to retrieve Gift Ngoepe's popout and he turned around to make the double play at first base. A flyout to right field ended the inning moving into the final opportunity for the Red Wings to make a comeback.
In the bottom of the ninth, lead-off hitter Kennys Vargas struck out for the first out of the inning followed by a popout by Britton. With two outs, it all came down to Tommy Field to keep the Red Wings in the game. Unfortunately, Luebke struck out Field to end the game.
O'Rourke finished up the game with 1.1 innings pitched, one hit, no runs, one walk and no strikeouts.
Kuhl earned the win, giving him a 4-1 record and 1.03 ERA. Berrios received his first loss of the season giving him a 3-1 record and a 1.61 ERA.
NOTES: Thursday's start by Jose Berrios was just the second time this season he did not strike out at least four batters in a game, including his five Triple-A starts and four big league starts. He now has 29 strikeouts in 28 innings with the Red Wings, with 20 strikeouts over 15 innings with the Twins.
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