STAFF REPORTS
The Rochester Red Wings topped the Pawtucket Red Sox 7-3 in a Memorial Day matinee, in front of a paid crowd of 12,369 at Frontier Field. The Wings return home to host Buffalo (Blue Jays) for three games starting Friday, May 31.
The PawSox got themselves on the board first against Red Wings’ starter Kohl Stewart. Sam Travis hit a solo home run in the top of fourth to make it a 1-0 game.
The Wings quickly responded in the bottom of the fourth. After Pawtucket starter Matthew Kent hit Zander Wiel with a pitch, Jake Cave hit a single through the right side of the infield allowing Wiel to advance to third. Randy Cesar grounded out in the next at bat scoring Wiel and tying the game 1-1.
Pawtucket regained the lead in the top of the fifth with an RBI single off the bat of Cole Sturgeon to make the score 2-1.
Rochester’s offense exploded in the bottom of the fifth. Wilin Rosario led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a single by Drew Maggi. In the next at bat, John Andreoli hit a sacrifice fly bringing in Rosario from third to tie the game. Nick Gordon followed it up with an RBI triple into the right field corner, driving in Maggi from first. After LaMonte Wade Jr. drew a walk, Wiel hit a single bringning Gordon in to score and advancing Wade to third. The hit parade continued for the Wings as Cave doubled in the next at bat driving in Wade, and Cesar hit a two RBI single giving the Red Wings a 7-2 lead.
Kent finished his outing throwing 4.1 innings, allowing nine hits, seven earned runs, one walk, and he struck out one. 50 of his 78 pitches were for strikes.
Pawtucket pushed across another run in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Josh Ockimey to make it a 7-3 game.
Before D.J. Baxendale came on in relief in the seventh, Stewart pitched 6.0 innings, giving up three hits, three runs; one of which was earned, one walk, while striking out three. He threw 85 pitches, 51 for strikes.
Baxendale had an impressive outing throwing 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Preston Guilmet pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout to close out the game.
Rochester out-hit Pawtucket 11-4.
