
"Above Average" Wings Beat Syracuse 6-1
August 30, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
The Rochester "Average Red Wings" topped the Syracuse "Purple Cobras" 6-1 on Dodgeball Night Friday at Frontier Field. The teams meet again Saturday night for Red Wings Hall of Fame Night honoring Rich Dauer, with fireworks after the game.
Winning Pitcher:
Graterol (1-0)
Losing Pitcher:
Oswalt (10-4)
Save:
none
Rochester was able to manufacture a run in the first inning against Syracuse starter Corey Oswalt. Drew Maggi reached first on a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line to lead off the inning, and advanced to third after Mets third baseman Arismendy Alcantara made a throwing error on a groundball hit by Willians Astudillo in the next at bat. With runners on first and third, Ramon Flores grounded into a double play that allowed Maggi to cross the plate and give the Wings a 1-0 lead.
Rochester starter Devin Smeltzer settled into the game quickly, striking out the first two batters of the game and pitching a quick first inning.
The Wings were able to tack on another run in the bottom of the second with a solo home run into the Red Wings' bullpen in right off the bat of Zander Wiel. His 24th home run of the season and his third in the last four games put Rochester out in front 2-0. The home run also extended Wiel's on-base streak to 19 games.
Smeltzer finished his outing after throwing 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit, no runs, and striking out three. 20 of his 27 pitches were for strikes. He was relieved by Zack Littell who threw a scoreless third inning.
Maggi made another bid to become a leadoff base runner with a hit into center that was robbed by an impressive diving catch by New York Mets rehabbing outfielder, Brandon Nimmo.
Brusdar Graterol entered the game to pitch for Rochester in the top of the fourth and threw a perfect inning with two strike outs.
Rochester brought another reliever into the game for the top of the fifth. Sam Clay came on in relief and began pitching in the top of the fifth.
Syracuse was able to put their first run of the game on the board in the top of the sixth. Sam Haggerty led off the inning with a triple into the right-center gap and came in to score on a single by Dilson Herrera making the score 2-1.
After walking Flores and giving up a single to Wilin Rosario, Syracuse made a move to the bullpen to replace Oswalt who finished with a line of 5.1 innings pitched, four hits, two runs, one earned run, two walks, and five strikeouts. He threw 86 pitches, 55 for strikes. Donnie Hart entered the game in relief of Oswalt and got Alejandro De Aza to ground into a fielder's choice to put runners on first and third. In the next at bat, Brandon Barnes hit a single to right field that brought Flores in from third, and was misplayed by Rhymer Liriano allowing De Aza to score making it a 4-1 game.
Clay pitched 2.0 innings of one-run ball and walked the first batter of the seventh inning before Rochester went to the bullpen and brought in Trevor Hildenberger who pitched the rest of the inning without letting the leadoff base runner score.
The Wings added some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Astudillo reached first on a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came in two score on a double crushed into the gap by De Aza. Barnes slapped a single to left in the next at bat, bringing in De Aza from second and extending Rochester's lead to 6-1.
After Hildenberger threw 2.0 scoreless innings, Ryne Harper came on to pitch the ninth, who found himself in a jam with the bases loaded, but was able to work his way out of it without giving up any runs and closed out the game.
NOTES: RHP Ryne Harper became the 72nd different Red Wing to appear in a game this season, adding to the franchise record...LHP Lewis Thorpe was optioned from Minnesota and INF Ivan De Jesus Jr. was released on Wednesday...OF Brandon Barnes extended his hitting streak to five games with a walk in the fifth inning...C Willians Astudillo extended his on-base streak to 10 games with a single in the eighth...
THIS DAY IN RED WINGS HISTORY
1986 - Rochester clinched second place in the International League and home field advantage for the first round of the Governor's cup playoffs as they beat Syracuse 8-5 at Silver Stadium. During the game, rookie outfielder Ken Gerhart hit his IL leading 28th home run.
• Discuss this story on the International League message board...
International League Stories from August 30, 2019
- RailRiders can't hold off Bisons' rally in the middle innings in Friday night loss - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Craig Homers as Clippers Two-Hit Tribe - Indianapolis Indians
- Urena Drives in Five as Bisons Top RailRiders, 8-7 - Buffalo Bisons
- Stripers Clinch IL South Division Title Despite Loss in Durham - Gwinnett Stripers
- IronPigs split doubleheader in Pawtucket - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bulls Win in Walk-Off Fashion - Durham Bulls
- "Above Average" Wings Beat Syracuse 6-1 - Rochester Red Wings
- Knights Shut out 2-0 in Norfolk - Charlotte Knights
- Shepherd Controls Knights in 2-0 Win - Norfolk Tides
- Mets Drop Series Opener to Red Wings, 6-1 - Syracuse Mets
- Bats Fall to Mud Hens on Friday Night, 2-0 - Louisville Bats
- Mud Hens Hit Milestone 500th Sellout - Toledo Mud Hens
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (65-71) vs. Columbus Clippers (77-59) - Indianapolis Indians
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Indy Announces 2019 Award Winners - Indianapolis Indians
- Red Wings Announce 2020 Schedule - Rochester Red Wings
- Game Notes: Louisville Bats (57-79) at Toledo Mud Hens (65-71) - Louisville Bats
- Montgomery Joins SWB for Rehab Start Tonight - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- 2020 Durham Bulls Home Schedule Announced - Durham Bulls
- Bisons Game Notes - Buffalo at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- Governors' Cup Playoff Preview - August 30, 2019 - IL1
- Mets Win Regular Season Home Finale and Regain Share of First Place - Syracuse Mets
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Splits Twinbill at Pawtucket - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Rochester Red Wings Stories
- Wings' Walk off to Win Game Two, Split Sunday Twin Bill
- Red Wings, IronPigs Postponed Saturday
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - May 3 vs. Lehigh Valley
- Red Wings Walk off IronPigs in Wild Back-And-Forth Barnburner
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - May 2 vs. Lehigh Valley

