ROCHESTER — The Red Wings dropped a 3-1 game to the Pawtucket Red Sox Thursday afternoon at Frontier Field.
The Wings return home to host Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees) Friday August 12, for Red Wings Hall of Fame Night and post-game fireworks; complete promotions details below…
Left-hander Adalberto Mejia made his Red Wings debut, allowing a leadoff single then getting a double play grounder and a strikeout in the top of the first inning.
Pawtucket’s defense helped out starter Brian Johnson in the bottom of the first. Left fielder Ryan LaMarre made sliding catch to take away a hit from Tommy Field, and second baseman Mike Miller leaped to snare a would-be single by Wilfredo Tovar.
The Red Sox struck first, going up 2-0 in the top of the third inning. Rusney Castillo hit a two-out triple to score Mike Miller, then LaMarre drove in Castillo with a double.
Johnson threw 4.1 no-hit innings before Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a solo home run to left in the fifth, his second homer of the season.
In the sixth inning, the Wings put together a scoring threat when Tovar and Trevor Plouffe had back-to-back hits with one out. But Johnson set down the next two batters, and the game moved to the seventh inning with the PawSox ahead 2-1.
Mejia set down the side in order in the top of the seventh, the fourth time Mejia retired the Sox in order on the day.
Johnson worked six innings and allowed just three hits and an earned run, with three walks and six strikeouts. He threw 93 pitches, 65 for strikes. Robby Scott came in to work the seventh for Pawtucket. Scott walked Rodriguez, and Darin Mastroianni reached on a throwing error by Deven Marrero at short. With Carlos Paulino at bat, Mastroianni was picked off on a steal attempt, and Paulino struck out. Beresford grounded out to second to end the inning.
Mejia allowed six hits and two runs, both earned, in his seven innings. He struck out eight, did not walk a batter and threw 93 pitches, 60 for strikes.
Neil Ramirez came in to pitch the eighth. Pawtucket also had runners on the corners with no outs in the top of the eighth and scored a run for a 3-1 advantage when LaMarre hit a sacrifice fly to score Chris Dominguez.
Sean Burnett worked the ninth inning, and wriggled out of a bases loaded, two out jam.
In the ninth against Heath Hembree, the Wings went down in order on three strikeouts.
The Wings were out-hit by Pawtucket 8-4.
Winning Pitcher: Brian Johnson (4-4)
Losing Pitcher: Adalberto Mejia (0-1)
Save: Heath Hembree (5)
NOTES:
The league office announced it will rule on Wednesday’s protested game by Pawtucket in the next few days…Trevor Plouffe was 1-for-4 as the designated hitter in the third game of a major league rehab assignment…The homer by Reynaldo Rodriguez was the league-leading 98th of the season for the team…