Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - April 2 vs. Scranton/WB
IL Rochester Red Wings

Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - April 2 vs. Scranton/WB

Published on April 2, 2026 under International League (IL)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


Scranton/WB RailRiders (2-2) vs. Rochester Plates (3-1)

Thursday - 6:05 p.m. ET - ESL Ballpark - Rochester, NY

Radio: Fox Sports 1280/iHeartRadio TV: Bally Sports Live

RHP Elmer Rodriguez (NR) vs. LHP Andrew Alvarez (0-0, 11.25)

SAME BIRDS, NEW NEST: In the first ever game at ESL Ballpark, and coldest home opener since 2018, the Rochester Red Wings picked up a 5-4 victory over the Scranton/WB RailRiders...2B-SS TREY LIPSCOMB paced the offense with a homer and a double, and DH CHRISTIAN FRANKLIN notched two hits of his own to give him at least one knock in each of the first four games...on the mound, RHP ORLANDO RIBALTA picked up the save with a scoreless ninth, his first since May 21, 2024 with Double-A Harrisburg...Rochester looks to start 4-1 for the fourth time since 2010 (2015, 2017, 2022) in game two of the series tonight, sending LHP ANDREW ALVAREZ to the mound for his second start of 2026...

With a 10-1 victory in their home opener in 2025, the Red Wings have now won their first home game in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2015 & 2016.

DOUBLE DOINK: TREY LIPSCOMB and 3B YOHANDY MORALES launched back-to-back homers in the bottom half of the fifth to give Rochester a 4-2 lead in Wednesday's contest...this marked the first time the Red Wings have hit back-to-back homers in their home opener since at least 2004, and first time going back-to-back since ANDREW PINCKNEY and JACKSON CLUFF on 8/3/2025 at CLT...Rochester has now hit at least two homers in their home opener three times since at least 2004 (2026, 2021, 2011)...

Morales' homer came off the bat at 108.1 MPH, his second-hardest hit home run at the Triple-A level (112.8 MPH, 8/22/25 vs. TOL).

RILED UP: RHP RILEY CORNELIO settled in after allowing two earned in the first inning last night, going 4.1 innings while allowing two hits, and striking out seven with three walks in the no-decision...his seven strikeouts are the most he's had in an outing under 5.0 innings at the Triple-A level, and most since 5/31/2023 with Single-A Fredericksburg (4.0 IP)...

Cornelio averaged 95.8 MPH on his sinker last night, up from his 94.6 MPH average on that pitch in Triple-A in 2025.

FRANKLY, HE'S ON A TEAR: DH CHRISTIAN FRANKLIN has notched a hit in each of the four games to start the 2026 campaign, extending his hitting streak to seven games dating back to 9/6/2025...the University of Arkansas alum went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the home opener...since he joined Rochester on 8/1/2025, Franklin ranks in the top three among qualified Red Wing batters in AVG (2nd, .291), RBI (3rd, 25), OBP (2nd, .380), SLG (3rd, .418), OPS (2nd, .798), walks (T-2nd, 19), and stolen bases (3rd, 9).

DOWNTON ABI(MELEC): 1B ABIMELEC ORTIZ logged another double and walk last night, going 1-for-3 and extending his team lead in each of those categories to three and six, respectively...his three doubles through the first four games of the season are the most by a Red Wing since ByungHo Park in 2017 (3).

LIPSCOMB-ING HOME: 2B-SS TREY LIPSCOMB went 2-for-4 with two RBI last night, blasting the first Red Wing homer at ESL Ballpark and later adding a double...this marks the first time he has tallied a homer and double in the same contest since 7/20/2025 at LHV, and the first time at ESL Ballpark since 7/4/2024 against Buffalo...

Lipscomb got the start at shortstop in the contest for the first time since 4/23/2025 vs. BAL, with Washington.

ORLANDO MAGIC: RHP ORLANDO RIBALTA closed the game for the Red Wings last night, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save...this marked his first save at the Triple-A level, and first since 5/21/2024 with Double-A Harrisburg.

THIS DAY IN RED WINGS HISTORY: APRIL 2: Prior to 2023, the earliest start to a season in franchise history was 4/3...since Triple-A implemented an earlier schedule in 2023 to coincide with MLB schedules, Rochester has been either postponed or canceled on 4/2 in all four seasons...all three of those matchups were scheduled against Lehigh Valley.

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