STAFF REPORTS
news@allwnynews.com
The Red Wings high-powered offense was held in check Thursday afternoon as they were blanked for the first time in 2017, 3-0, by the Gwinnett Braves.
The Wings, who entered the day leading the International League in home runs (17), batting average (.279), on-base (.357) and slugging percentage (.457), managed just four hits (all singles) against four Braves pitchers. Lucas Sims made the start for Gwinnett tossing seven scoreless innings.
Rochester (7-6) has now lost back-to-back games for the first time all season.
The G-Braves took the 1-0 lead on a Mel Rojas RBI single in the fifth and added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth.
The Wings best chance to score came in the eighth when with one out John Ryan Murphy singled and Bengie Gonzalez reached on an error on Gwinnett’s second baseman to put runners on first and second. But Braves manager Damon Berryhill used a pair of relievers to induce J.B. Shuck in to a fielder’s choice and Leonardo Reginatto to fly out to right to end the threat.
Nick Tepesch (1-1) suffered the tough-luck loss for Rochester, allowing one unearned run on seven hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out seven as he lowered his ERA to an even 2.00 on the year.
J.T. Chargois, the hard-throwing Twins prospect, made his season debut on Thursday, entering with runners on first and second and nobody out in the sixth. He struck out ex-Wing Adam Brett Walker, got Blake Lalli to fly out to right and Emerson Landoni to ground to second to thwart the rally.
The Wings southern division road trip shifts to Charlotte for a three-game weekend set beginning Friday night at 7:05 against the Knights.
