Knights rally to top Wings
Brent Morel had three hits and three RBI, leading the the Charlotte Knights to a 4-2 comeback win over the Red Wings Friday night at Frontier Field. The Wings host the Knights again Saturday at 7:05 p.m., with fireworks after the game.
Left-hander Pedro Hernandez made his first start for the Red Wings after spending most of the season in Minnesota, and Hernandez fanned the first two batters he faced Friday in a scoreless first inning. He also struck out a pair of Knights in the fourth, giving the former Knight six K's through only the first four innings. The 24-year-old finished with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits while walking only one.
Charlotte's Zach Stewart retired the first five Rochester batters he faced, before allowing back-to-back singles to Chris Herrmann and Brian Dinkelman. The Wings had the same scenario in the second inning of Thursday's game, and for the second straight night Doug Bernier delivered a run-scoring single for a 1-0 Red Wings lead.
Hernandez found himself in trouble in the third. A Blake Tekotte double and Carlos Sanchez single put runners on the corners with only one out. Hernandez responded by retiring Morel on a called third strike and forcing Jordan Danks to ground out to first, preserving the one-run lead.
Clete Thomas extended the Red Wings' lead in the bottom of the third. In only his second game back after missing 14 with a quad injury, Thomas knocked his seventh home run of the season over the Rochester bullpen in right field. His two-out homer was his first hit since his return to the lineup, giving Rochester a 2-0 advantage.
In the top of the fifth, Charlotte's Brandon Short led off with a line drive into center field, which was nearly caught by a diving Thomas. In the next at-bat, Short was doubled up at first after Rochester's Jeff Clement snagged a liner out of the air and then stepped on first. Hernandez closed the frame with his seventh strikeout, retiring Sanchez for the second time on strikes.
Morel broke up Hernandez's shutout in the sixth inning with one swing of the bat. He led off the frame with a solo homer to left center field, cutting the Knights' deficit to one.
The Knights gained their first lead in the their half of the seventh. Hernandez was relieved in favor of Luis Perdomo after loading the bases with his only walk of the night with two outs. Morel knocked his second double of the game down the left field line off Perdomo, driving in a pair of runs. A third run scored after an errant throw to home from the cut-off man, Bernier, giving Charlotte a 4-2 lead.
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NOTES: The Red Wings have now won 8 of their last 13 games against the Knights dating back to 2011 -- including a 6-3 mark at Frontier Field... RHP Anthony Slama was reinstated from the Red Wings disabled list on Friday. Slama missed 29 games after going on the disabled list April 23 with a lower back strain. Prior to hitting the DL, Slama was 0-4 with an 18.47 ERA (13 ER/6.1 IP)...Prior to this season, the 29-year-old had a 1.99 career MiLB ERA with 100 saves in 254 games... The Red Wings announced details for the Father's Day Pack, with four tickets, a Wings cap or t-shirt, and a yearbook. It's available until June 15, and you can click here for details on how to order. |
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PROBABLE STARTERS:
5/25 vs. CHA 7:05 pm RHP Kyle Gibson (3-5, 3.25) vs. RHP Andre Rienzo (3-2, 7.33) WHTK 1280 AM
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Pics of the Day |
This Day in Red Wings History: 1959 - Red Wing legend Luke Easter hit his first Rochester home run in a win against Havanna. The shot hit the catwalk of the light standard some 100 feet above the 345 foot mark in right field. The win put the Wings above .500 for the first time all season
This Day in IL Baseball History: 1952 - Charlie Bishop, star right-handed pitcher for the Ottawa Athletics, tosses a 9-inning no-hit shutout. Bishop beats the Syracuse Chiefs 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. Ottawa collects just four hits but scores the game's lone run in the 1st inning to give the 28-year-old Bishop all the support he needs. The Athletics also win the nightcap, 6-5. Bishop was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for Ottawa. On a team which won just 65 games all season, Bishop recorded an International League-best 20 victories.
Born On This Day: 1941 - Bob Dylan... 1965 - John C. Reilly... 1979 - Tracy Mcgrady
It Happened This Day in Baseball: 1936 - At Shibe Park, second baseman Tony Lazzeri becomes the first major league player to hit two grand slams in the same game when the Yankees annihilate the A's, 25-2. The bases-full homers enable the future member of the Hall of Fame to establish a new American League record with 11 RBIs. 1964 - The major league mark for shutouts in one day is broken as seven of the twenty major league teams do not cross home plate. The Twins, White Sox, Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Cardinals and Pirates are all blanked. 1994 - In a 13-6 Oriole win over Milwaukee at County Stadium, Cal Ripken hits his 300th career home run. The milestone round-tripper is a three-run shot to deep left field off Teddy Higuera in the third inning.
#1 Song On This Day: 1967 "Groovin'" Young Rascals... 1997 "MMMBop" Hanson... 2004 "Burn" Usher