The Red Wings fell behind early in a 7-4 loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox Wednesday night at Frontier Field. The teams meet again Thursday at 6:05 p.m., with a Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra concert and fireworks after the game.

The Paw Sox jumped out to an early lead against Rochester starter Luke French. Pedro Ciriaco started the game with a single, and former Red Wings Jason Repko followed with a two-run home run.

The Red Wings got a run back in their half of the first inning against Pawtucket right-hander Doug Mathis. Brian Dinkelman's two-out single plated Pedro Florimon to make it a 2-1 game after one inning.

Pawtucket continued to swing the bats well in the second inning as a three-run home run by Jason Hee made the game 5-1. After the Red Sox drove home thier sixth run of the game, French was pulled and replaced by Esmerling Vasquez. It was French's shortest outing of the year as he finished the night pitching just 1 1/3 innings, allowing 7 hits and 6 runs.

The Wings brought the game back to within four runs in the bottom half of the inning when Tsuyoshi Nishioka drove in Matt Carson from first on a two-out double to make the score 6-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, Carson hit a two-run home run and Pawtucket's lead was reduced to 6-4.

In the sixth inning, Vasquez was relpaced by Caleb Thielbar. Vasquez was able to set down 10 batters in a row and only allowed two hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Bobby Lanigan took over with a runner on base in the eighth. Pawtucket scored a run in the ninth, ending a 19-inning stretch of scoreless relief pitching for Rochester.

 

NOTES: Rochester last won on Independence Day in 2008, when they notched an 8-1 triumph vs. Buffalo (Mets). Tonight marks the 9th year in a row the Red Wings have played at home on the 4th of July...The Minnesota Twins today selected the contract of righthanded relief pitcher Casey Fien. To make room for him on the roster, the Twins optioned righthander Nick Blackburn to Triple-A Rochester. Fien went 2-5 with 9 saves and a 4.30 ERA in 33 games. He is tied for the team lead in saves with the injured Anthony Slama. The 28-year-old Fien is the 11th Red Wing to get promoted to the Twins, the 6th pitcher. He last pitched in the majors in 2010, making 2 appearances with Detroit. Nick Blackburn, meanwhile, went 3-1 in 6 starts with the Twins after returning from the 15-Day Disabled List despite a 7.80 ERA (26 ER/30.0 IP) in those starts.

 

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Rochester Baseball Observer - independent coverage and analysis of the Rochester Red Wings

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UP NEXT:
Thurs. July 5 - 6:05 p.m. Red Wings vs. Pawtucket (Red Sox)
Baseball/RPO Concert/Fireworks Tripleheader- Following the game, fans can enjoy an exclusive concert performed by the RPO, then stick around for a great fireworks show, presented by Messenger Post Media...National Honey Board Buy 1, Get 1 Thursday: Buy 1 Ticket, Get 1 Free with honey receipt... Good Student Night presented by Red Robin. Any student with a "B" or better on their report card will receive $1 off their ticket... Knot Hole Kid's Club Game (Knot Hole members receive reduced admission to this and all Knot Hole games. In addition, parents of Knot Holers get $1 off their ticket price), presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and Messenger Post Media... Hillside Family of Agencies Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Meet a different Red Wings player each game, signing free autographs... 6:25 pm-6:45 pm prior to 7:05 pm games; 5:25-5:45 p.m. prior to 6:05 games; 12:25 pm-12:45 pm prior to 1:05 pm games.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE JULY PROMOTIONS DETAILS

 

PROBABLE STARTERS:
Thursday, July 5 vs. Pawtucket 6:05 p.m. RHP Tony Pena Jr. (0-6, 6.23) vs. RHP Jeff Manship (4-1, 2.79) TWCS/WHTK 1280 AM
Friday, July 6 vs. Pawtucket 7:05 p.m. RHP Billy Buckner (1-2, 7.36) vs. RHP P.J. Walters (3-1, 3.13) WHTK 1280 AM
Saturday, July 7 vs. Lehigh Valley 6:05 p.m. LHP Tom Cochran (5-1, 3.68) vs. RHP Liam Hendriks (5-0, 1.94) WHTK 1280 AM
Sunday, July 8 vs. Lehigh Valley 12:05 p.m. (DH) RHP Tyler Cloyd (8-1, 2.15) vs. RHP Samuel Deduno (1-2, 2.14) ; TBD vs. RHP Steven Hirschfeld (1-2, 6.00) WHTK 1280 AM

QUICK LINKS

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Future Wing Watch - Ft. Myers Miracle player Lance Ray went 2 for 3 with three runs and three RBI's in a 11-2 win over the St. Lucie Mets yesterday. New Britain's Evan Bigley went 2 for 4 with two runs and four RBI's. Additionally Estarlin De Los Santos went 2 for 5 with two runs and four RBI's for the Rock Cats in their 14-7 win over the Bowie Baysox.

This Day in Red Wings History: 1980 - the Red Wings had 19 hits in their 14-2 pummeling of the Charleston Charlies. Larry Jones allowed two runs in a complete game effort during the victory...1983 - Wings Play Long-Ball, Use Five Homers to Rout Syracuse...Losers of three out of four, the Wings needed a boost midway through the 1983 season. What they got was an offensive explosion, and a return to normalcy for starting pitcher Paul Mirabella. Entering their July 4th showdown with Syracuse, the Red Wings were barely able to keep their heads above water, treading along with a 36-39 record. If just for one day, the Wings put together an offensive barrage worthy of being champions. The Wings crushed five home runs, and pounded out 19 hits in beating Syracuse 18-4. Leading the hit parade was Wings first basemen Dan Logan, who smashed two home runs, and drove in five runs. Rochester jumped out to an 8-0 lead after one inning, and never looked back. Jose Barrios had three hits, including a homer (9th), and drove in three runs, providing more than enough support for Mirabella (3-5). The Wings starter was effective, limiting the Sky Chiefs to four runs on ten hits over seven innings. Leadoff hitter Glenn Gulliver also had a big day at the plate, pounding out four hits, including his fifth homer of the year, and knocked in four runs. When Rochester's offensive fireworks were finished, they had put up a season-best 18 runs...2005 - The Red Wings bats came out to celebrate on Independence Day, and the Wings defeated the first place Buffalo Bisons 7-3 at Frontier Field Monday night. Kevin West led the Wings attack going 2 for 4 with a three-run home run. Ricky Barrett pitched well in his first start of the season, starting in place of the injured J.D. Durbin. Barrett went 4 innings, allowing only two hits, and one run, striking out 6. Henry Bonilla (4-2) came in to pitch stellar in relief as well, going 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs and striking out 5...2006: Jason Tyner had three hits and three runs scored and Tommy Watkins hit a three-run home run, part of a 15-hit offensive outburst in the Red Wings' 10-6 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox Tuesday night at Frontier Field.


This Day in IL Baseball History: 1999 – Pawtucket outfielder Michael Coleman records one of the best games ever for a hitter during his team’s 25-2 rout of Norfolk. Baseball historians declare that Coleman is the first player in professional baseball history to hit for the cycle and go 7-7 in the same game. Coleman has two singles, a double, a triple, and a club-record tying three home runs in the historic offensive outburst. His seven hits, six runs scored, and 19 total bases all set records for the Pawtucket franchise. He also drives in 7 runs. At season’s end Coleman would be named the Red Sox Triple-A Player of the
Year on the strength of his .268 average, 30 HR, and 74 RBI.

Born on This Day: 1872 Calvin Coolidge... 1910 Gloria Stuart... 1930 George Steinbrenner.

It Happened This Day in Baseball: 1881 - At Riverside Grounds in Buffalo, NY, Mickey Welch throws two complete game victories as the Troy Trojans sweep a doubleheader from the Bisons in National League action, 8 - 3 and 12 - 0. 1908 - Lefthander Hooks Wiltse pitches a 10-inning no-hitter for the Giants over the Phillies, 1 - 0. He loses his bid for a perfect nine innings when, with two outs, he hits Phils P George McQuillan with a pitch on an 1 and 2 count. 1948 - Ted Williams faces three pitchers in the 7th inning, a first in American League history, as Boston snaps a 5 - 5 tie by scoring 14 runs to beat the visiting Philadelphia Athletics, 20 - 8. 1970 - In the opener of a twin bill between Pittsburgh and Chicago, Roberto Clemente hits his 3rd and 4th Wrigley Field round-trippers in two games. The first blast puts Pittsburgh up, 2 - 1, in the third, and the last provides the Pirates' final two runs in the 10 - 6 win. 1998 - Dodger interim General Manager Tommy Lasorda sends blue chippers Dennys Reyes and Paul Konerko to the Reds for closer Jeff Shaw. Lasorda later admits he was unaware that Shaw, under terms of the Basic Agreement, has the right to demand a trade at the end of the season.

#1 Song on This Day: 1960 "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" Connie Francis... 1970 "The Love You Save" The Jackson Five... 1990 "Step By Step" New Kids On The Block