IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Knights Edge Wings 4-3

Published on May 28, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


The Red Wings got another strong start from Tommy Milone, but a ninth inning rally gave the Charlotte Knights a 4-3 win over the Red Wings Saturday night at Frontier Field.

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Milone took the mound for the Red Wings in his fourth start of the season. So far in 2016 home games, he has a 1-0 record at Frontier Field with a 1.59 ERA. Milone's success at home continued into the first inning of Saturday's game as he pitched an efficient one-two-three inning, allowing Charlotte no early opportunities to strike.

In the top of the first inning, lead-off hitter Byron Buxton faced Charlotte's starter, Erik Johnson. Buxton kicked off the momentum for the Red Wings with a ground-rule double, which extended his hitting streak to seven games. Buxton has been an unstoppable force in his last five games, batting .500 with nine hits, three home runs and five RBIs prior to Saturday's match-up. James Beresford hit a sacrifice bunt, which moved Buxton to third base. Johnson walked Jorge Polanco which brought up Kennys Vargas. Vargas hit a sacrifice fly to right field which allowed Buxton to put a tally on the board for Rochester for a 1-0 lead.

Milone struck out the first two batters in the top of the second; however, he gave up a home run to Jason Coats to tie up the game 1-1.

In the bottom of the second with two outs,Wilfredo Tovar singled. During Carlos Paulino's at-bat, Tovar stole second base and moved third base thanks to a fielding error by the Knights. Johnson struck out Paulino on three pitches to end the inning, leaving Tovar at third and the game tied 1-1 after two.

In the bottom of the third, the Red Wings once again tried to make the most out of a two-out situation. Polanco was cool under pressure and belted a double into center field, his second of the season. Vargas could not capitalize on the opportunity, and hit a flyout to center field to close out the effort.

The Knights answered with a double of their own in the top of the fourth. J.B. Shuck's double had the potential to turn into a triple but James Beresford's back-up defense stopped him at second. Unfortunately, Matt Davidson notched his 14th double of the season during the next at-bat, enabling Charlotte to get the go-ahead run and lead 2-1.

Rosario nailed a single to kick off the bottom of the fourth for Rochester. Rosario's effort was followed up by a strikeout and a popout, bringing up Tovar with two outs. Tovar struck out looking to end the third scoreless inning in a row for the Red Wings.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Buxton secured his second hit of the game with a single. Beresford walked during the next at-bat to put runners on first and second with one out. The Red Wings' effort was once again put to a halt due to a flyout and a groundout, stranding two baserunners.

In the bottom of the sixth, Rosario hit the third double of the night for Rochester to start off the inning. Rosario moved over to third base courtesy of a groundout by Tommy Field. The following two batters hit a popout and a flyout, leaving yet another runner stranded on-base.

Through seven innings, Milone did not allow any hits after the fourth inning, keeping the Knights at bay and leaving the window open for the Red Wings to make a comeback.

The Red Wings came alive in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. Beresford reached first base due to a throwing error by Johnson. Next, Polanco walked creating a runners on first and second with two outs situation. After Polanco's walk, the Knights brought in Michael Ynoa to relieve Johnson. Ynoa (1-2) walked Vargas to load up the bases for Rosario. Rosario delivered in a major way for the squad, driving in two runs with his third hit of the night. Rosario's single boosted the Red Wings to a 3-2 advantage over Charlotte.

Johnson pitched 6.2 innings and gave up 6 hits, one run, three walks, and five strikeouts. Johnson threw 100 pitches, 68 for strikes.

With two outs and a runner at first base in the eighth inning, J.T. Chargois took over for Milone. Tim Anderson greeted Chargois with a single to put runners at first and second base, and that's when Carlos Sanchez lifted a flyball down the left field line. Adam Brett Walker made a long run to the line, followed by a diving back-hand stab to steal a potential extra base hit from Sanchez and squash the rally.

Milone pitched 7.2 innings, allowing just three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. He threw 102 pitches, 82 for strikes.

Alex Wimmers opened the ninth inning on the mound to face the heart of the batting order, and J.B. Shuck led off with a single. Shuck moved to second base on a passed ball, to put the tying run at second base with no outs. Wimmers (1-1) walked Matt Davidson, and Danny Hayes bunted the runners over. Beresford made an outstanding play to field the bunt and throw Hayes out at first base, and Charlotte manager Julio Vinas argued the call - then got ejected by first base umpire John Bacon. Jason Coats followed with a single under the glove of second baseman Field, allowing both runners to score for a 4-3 Charlotte lead. Sean Burnett replaced Wimmers and got a pair of groundball outs to end the rally.

Brad Goldberg took over on the mound for Charlotte in the bottom of the ninth, and retired Polanco on a grounder to third. Goldberg got a called third strike on Vargas for the second out, but Rosario picked up his fourth hit of the game with a single to left. Field went down swinging to end the game, with Goldberg picking up his fourth save.

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International League Stories from May 28, 2016


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