STAFF REPORTS
The Rochester Red Wings dropped a 8-2 contest to the Charlotte Knights Friday night at Frontier Field. The teams meet again Saturday night at 7:05 p.m., with The ZOOperstars! performing and fireworks after the game.
The Knights scored first in the top of the second after an RBI ground-rule-double by Seby Zavala off Red Wings starting pitcher, D.J. Baxendale, making the score 1-0. Baxendale was replaced with no outs in the second by Luke Bard. Baxendale finished with 1.0 innings thrown, allowed three hits, three runs and had one strikeout. Baxendale threw 23 pitches, 15 for strikes. Matt Skole scored from third on a wild pitch to give the Knights a 2-0 lead. Zavala scored on an error in the infield to make the score 3-0. Jake Elmore scored on a fielder’s choice in the infield to make the score 4-0. Charlie Tilson scored on an RBI double to give the Knights a 5-0 lead.
The Knights added to their lead in the top of the third after a solo home run by Jose Rondon, making the score 6-0. Tilson added to the lead with a two RBI single to give the Knights a 8-0 lead. Nick Anderson replaced Bard with two outs in the top of the third.
The game was put into an 11-minute delay after an umpire change was needed at home plate in the bottom of the fourth inning. Home plate umpire Ryan Wills was hit by a foul ball and left the game, replaced by base umpire Alex Tosi.
The Wings scored in the bottom of the fifth after an RBI single from Nick Gordon off Knights starting pitcher, Jordan Guerrero that scored Edgar Corcino, making the score 8-1. Jordan Pacheco scored on a throwing error in the infield to make the score 8-2.
Anderson was replaced by John Curtiss in the top of the sixth inning.
Caleb Frare replaced Guerrero in the bottom of the seventh inning. Guerrero finished with 6.0 innings thrown, allowed six hits, two runs, one walk and had seven strikeouts. Guerrero threw 97 pitches, 68 for strikes.
Alan Busenitz replaced Curtiss in the top of the ninth inning, and allowed a walk and a single before getting the next three outs.
The Knights out-hit the Wings 12-6.