Wings top Sox in season finale

The Rochester Red Wings beat the Pawtucket Red Sox 3-1 Monday afternoon at McCoy Field in Rhode Island, in the 2014 season finale for the Wings.

The Red Wings took an early lead against PawSox left-handed starter Chris Hernandez. Consecutive hits by Doug Bernier, Aaron Hicks and Chris Colabello helped the Wings to a 1-0 advantage, with Colabello's hit bringing home Bernier.

Kris Johnson allowed a leadoff single to Mike McCoy in the bottom of the first, but recorded three straight outs to retire the side, including striking out Justin Henry.

Deibinson Romero walked to begin the second inning, followed by a bloop single to left field by James Beresford.With one out, Hernandez walked Dan Rohlfing to load the bases for Eric Farris. Farris hit a fly ball to right field, deep enough to allow Romero to tag up from third for the sacrifice fly. Bernier, the next batter, was robbed by Corey Brown in right field as he made a diving catch for the third out. Both Beresford and Rohlfing were running on the pitch so the great play saved one run, and possibly a second. Rochester went into the bottom of the second inning, leading 2-0.

The first two batters in the bottom of the second frame reached base via the walk, but Johnson eluded a possible jam, again by setting down the next three men in order, with the help of two fielder's choices.

Ryan Roberts hit a leadoff double to begin the bottom of the fourth inning and scored on a Blake Swihart single to center. The throw from the center fielder Hicks to home plate was close, as home plate umpire Nic Lentz called Roberts safe, much to the dismay of Wings' manager Gene Glynn. Glynn argued the call before ultimately being ejected by Lentz. Rochester's lead was cut in half, 2-1.

To begin the top of the fifth, Rohlfing singled to right field and Farris reached first on an infield single before each runner advanced to third and second base respectively on a Bernier ground out to third. The next batter, Hicks, grounded out to first base, driving in Rohlfing from third but Farris was thrown out trying to reach third base after Hicks was thrown out at first.

Through five innings, 10 Red Wings reached base including the leadoff man in four of those innings, but were unable to fully capitalize off the starter Hernandez, grounding into four double-plays.

Hernandez pitched six innings for the PawSox, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while surrendering three walks, striking out five.

In the regular season finale, Johnson went six innings as well, giving up just one run on four hits and three walks, with three strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 3.48 and adding another quality start to end his season on a high note.

A.J. Achter relieved Johnson and pitched a perfect bottom of the seventh, striking out Swihart and Derrik Gibson. He added two more strikeouts in the eighth, giving him four punchouts in two innings, while allowing just one hit and zero runs.

Lester Oliveros came in for the save opportunity in the bottom of the ninth with Rochester leading 3-1. Oliveros pitched a one-two-three inning, striking out Deven Marrero to end the ball game, as well as the season for the Red Wings.

Johnson picked up his 10th win of the season, Achter recorded his fourth hold of the season, and Oliveros wrapped it up with his sixth and final save for the 2014 campaign.

 

 

 

NOTES: The Twins plan to add eight players to the roster after the conclusion of the Red Wings season Monday...they plan to recall LHP Logan Darnell, RHP Michael Tonkin, C Josmil Pinto, C/OF Chris Herrmann and OF Aaron Hicks...additionally the Twins will select the contracts of RHP Lester Oliveros, RHP A.J. Achter and INF Doug Bernier....also joining the Twins will be Triple-A hitting coach Tim Doherty from September 2-14 while Red Wings Manager Gene Glynn will be with the Twins from September 15-28...Highlights from our two days in McCoy Stadium press box: talking baseball with Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Tommy Harper, a 30-30 big leaguer. Did you know: Tommy grew up with, and played high school ball with, Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Stargell and Wings HOFer Curtell Motton...Red Sox ice cream bars Saturday, very helpful with the press box air conditioning broken; the precious commodities were guarded as closely as a Wonka bar recipe, by fervent PawSox staffers - or else certain Wings staffers would have had more than one...The steamy, tropical press box conditions were conducive to growing tomato plants, however; two small plants purchased Saturday afternoon had blossomed and born fruit by the seventh inning Sunday.

 

9/1 @ PAW 1:05 pm LHP Kris Johnson (9-7, 3.57) vs. RHP Steven Wright (5-5, 3.41) WHTK 1280 AM

 

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Sat. April 11, 2015 - 1:35 p.m. vs. Buffalo (Blue Jays) - OPENING DAY