Red Wings silenced in series finale

BY MIKE ROSE

The Rochester Red Wings ended the week with a quiet performance, falling to the Worcester Red Sox 5-0. In baseball’s final game before the All-Star break, Rochester was unable to get any offense going. With Red Wings outfielder Dylan Crews and third baseman Brady House still out of the team after appearing for the National League in the MLB Futures Game, the Red Wings managed just two hits and six total baserunners on offense in the loss.

The loss marked the first time Rochester had not played a game since the start of the second half. The last time the Red Wings had not played a game before Sunday was on June 12 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Left-hander DJ Herz started on the mound for the Red Wings but was unable to stay in the game for long, leaving after 3.1 innings. The Red Sox got to Herz in the second inning on a two-run double from Matthew Lugo to give Worcester an early lead. Herz finished his first Triple-A start since May by allowing two runs on two hits, three walks and two strikeouts. He was 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 31.1 innings for the Washington Nationals this season.

Worcester struck out Garvin Alston in the fifth inning. Enmanuel Valdez scored the first run on a fielder’s choice groundout before Mickey Gasper hit an RBI single to make it 4-0. Alston made his Triple-A debut on Sunday and allowed two runs in 2.2 innings. He allowed three hits and two walks and recorded two punchouts. Alston pitched 30.1 innings in Double-A this season and posted a 3.86 ERA.

Eddy Alvarez hit a solo blast in the eighth inning to cap the win for Worcester. Luis Guerrero got the win on the mound for Worcester. The Red Wings’ only hits came from Drew Millas and Carter Kieboom. Kieboom also managed two walks, reaching base three times in the game. Darren Baker also reached base for the Red Wings with a walk.

The loss sets up the first split series for Rochester (13-5, 51-40) in the second half. It is also the first series in the second half that the Red Wings have failed to win. Despite the loss, they still hold the top spot in the International League standings and are one game ahead of second-place Lehigh Valley. With all of baseball heading into the All-Star break, Rochester will be out of action until the weekend. After the break, they will resume play with a three-game road game at Syracuse to face the Mets starting Friday. First pitch at NBT Bank Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with projected starting pitchers for both sides yet to be determined.