Home Game Preview 8.30.14
presented by Coach Tony's Gourmet Hot Sauce
Welcome to the RedWingsBaseball.com Home Game Preview, for every home game at Frontier Field - this feature is usually available two hours before game time on the day of each home game.
Saturday August 30, 2014
Rochester Red Wings (76-65)
Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins
vs.
Buffalo Bisons (75-65)
Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
GAME TIME: 7:05 P.M.
SERIES: Bisons lead 9-6.
PREVIEW:
The Red Wings and the Bisons square off tonight in a battle of playoff hopeful teams. RHP Alex Meyer (7-6, 3.41 ERA) will go for the Red Wings as LHP Brad Mills (1-1, 3.91 ERA) gets the starting nod for the Bisons. Meyer won his last start at home against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in which he allowed two earned runs and struck out four over six innings on August 25. Meyer's 153 strikeouts this season lead the International League.
Chris Colabello, who scored the winning run in last night's game, has had some success against Mills. On August 20 of this season, he went 2-for-3 with a homer against the lefty. Speaking of lefties, Eric Farris is hitting .309 this season versus southpaws, including his two-run home run last night. Pedro Florimon (seven games),Chris Herrmann (five games) and Colabello (five games) all look to extend their hitting streaks tonight.
The Red Wings' bullpen has continued to be a strong point for Rochester in the past 13 games. The relievers have compiled a 1.48 ERA, allowing just seven earned runs in their last 42 2/3 innings pitched. The trio of A.J. Achter (10 1/3 innings, one earned run), Stephen Pryor (7 innings, one earned run) and Michael Tonkin (5 innings pitched, no earned runs) have combined for just two earned runs in their last 22 1/3 innings pitched, good for a 0.81 ERA.
IL GOVERNOR'S CUP PENNANT RACE: With Buffalo's loss last night, the Syracuse Chiefs have clinched at least the Wild Card. The Chiefs' magic number to secure the division over Pawtucket remains at two.
One other team has a clear path to the postseason if it can win out, and that's the Red Wings. Rochester would own the tiebreaker with Pawtucket if the Red Wings sweep the PawSox in the two-game series at Pawtucket this Sunday and Monday (the teams have split their previous 14 meetings this season). Rochester is no stranger to late-season dramatics, having clinched the final entry into the 2013 playoffs on the final day of the regular season. Last September, Gene Glynn's club had to win its last three games and do a little scoreboard watching before finally capturing the Wild Card on Labor Day. To summarize: if the Wings win their final three games this weekend, they will take the Wild Card spot.
TOP PROSPECTS
presented by Baseball America and BaseballAmerica.com
These Bisons were featured in Baseball America's 2014 Prospect Handbook as a Top 30 Prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization: LHP Daniel Norris (6), LHP Sean Nolin (10), C A.J. Jimenez (14), OF Dalton Pompey (17), RHP John Stilson (21), 2B/SS Ryan Goins (29).
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OFFICIAL TWITTER
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The New Britain Rock Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, gave up a ninth inning lead to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Friday night, losing 4-3. Reynaldo Rodriguez smashed his 21st home run of the season for New Britain. Rodriguez scored his 81st run of the season, good for the second most in the Eastern League. He also ranks first in the league with 36 doubles. Pat Dean went seven strong innings in the no decision, allowing only two earned runs while walking none.
| Triple-A Rochester Red Wings |
Double-A |
| Class A Advanced Ft. Myers Miracle |
Class-A Cedar Rapids Kernels |
| Short Season A Elizabethton Twins |
Rookie GCL Twins |
Rookie DSL Twins |
Click here for links to Twins minor league club rosters, stats and schedules.
Home Games: Opening Day 2015 Saturday, April 11