Home Game Preview: Sun. April 6
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.
Sunday April 6, 2014
Rochester Red Wings (0-1)
Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins
vs.
Buffalo Bisons (1-0)
Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
Buffalo leads season series 1-0
GAME TIME: 2:05 p.m.
PREVIEW:
After Saturday's postponement, the Red Wings finally open the gates to Frontier Field for an 18th season Sunday afternoon with a 2:05 p.m. matinee against the Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Bisons (1-0) are the last team the Wings were hoping to draw for the home opener as Buffalo is 4-0 all-time against Rochester on Opening Day at Frontier Field - including spoiling the Opening Day festivities each of the last two seasons.
Over the past four seasons, the Wings are just 24-40 against the Bisons losing all four season series.
The Red Wings, despite losing their last two Frontier Field openers, are 8-4 in their home debuts over the last 12 years and are 8-9 all-time at Frontier Field. Since 1929, the Wings are 47-38 in front of the home crowd on Opening Day.
Red Wings fans should notice some familiar faces as 14 players return from last season including 12 who were on the Wings' postseason roster.
One of the new Wings this season is Sunday's starter, Alex Meyer.
The top pitching prospect in the organization and 28th ranked prospect in all of baseball will toe the rubber for the Wings Sunday making his Triple-A debut. The 6-9 fire-baller, went 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA in just 13 starts for Double-A New Britain last season as he was hampered by a shoulder injury. The former first round pick (23rd overall) of Washington in 2011, came over to the Twins organization in the Denard Span trade following the 2012 season. Meyer, who has made just 41 professional starts, has a career 2.91 ERA.
Meyer will be opposed by right-hander Kyle Drabek, once a top pitching prospect in his own right and the son of former Major League pitcher Doug Drabek. The younger Drabek spent most of 2013 rehabbing from his 2nd Tommy John surgery. Drabek has a history against the Twins organization, throwing a no-hitter against New Britain (Twins Double-A affiliate) in 2010 and earning his first Major League victory against Minnesota in 2011.
Saturday was the 4th Opening Day to be postponed in 18 seasons at Frontier Field (2007, 2003 & 2000).
WEATHER-RELATED UPDATES:
Updates on any weather-related gate opening/game time changes or postponements will be posted frequently on our home page media wall, and on our official Twitter page. For more information on how we communicate weather-related updates with our fans, please click here.
WEATHER FORECAST: Click here for the latest weather from Frontier Field.
LOCAL RADIO BROADCAST: WHTK 1280 AM
AUDIO WEBCAST: Click here to access the live audio webcast with Josh Whetzel, The Voice of the Red Wings®
LOCAL TV: TWCS (digital cable 26/323, and digital cable on demand channel 214)
INTERNET TV: Click here to watch on MiLB.TV (subscription required)
FRONTIER COMMUNITY CAM Live from Frontier Field - check out the view from suite level, between home plate and first base
RED WINGS GAME NOTES: Click here for Game Notes from the Red Wings Communication Department (usually available two hours before game time). Our game notes feature updates, upcoming probable pitchers, individual batter and pitcher notes, transactions, and much more.
REDWINGSBASEBALL.COM/MiLB.COM GAMEDAY
Gameday provides real-time pitch-by-pitch coverage for every Red Wings game. You can find Gameday in the Game Status Module on our home page, above the linescore; look for the Gameday text link.
OFFICIAL TWITTER
Get updates on Red Wings home games with our official Twitter pages, @RocRedWings and @JoshWhetzel
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TOP PROSPECTS
presented by Baseball America and BaseballAmerica.com
These Bisons were featured in Baseball America's 2013 Prospect Handbook as a Top 30 Prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization: (2) RHP Marcus Stroman, (10) LHP Sean Nolin, (20) OF Kevin Pillar, (21) RHP John Stilson
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TWINS MINOR LEAGUE REPORT: Mike Gonzales hit a grand slam to lead the Fort Myers Miracle over Jupiter 11-4 Saturday night. Gonzales finished the night 2-for-5 with five RBI. Brett Lee started adn got the win for the Miracle, 3-0 to open the season.
| 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.
Coming up: April 7-9 vs. Scranton/WB (Yankees)