Aaron Bates had three hits to lead
Andy Baldwin and the Red Wings to a 7-4 Indianapolis Indians Friday night at Frontier Field, before a crowd of 11, 321. The series continues with a day/night doubleheader Saturday, a 1:05 p.m. contest and the regularly scheduled 7:05 p.m. contest.
Rochester starter Baldwin threw only 19 pitches, 12 of which were strikes in a 1-2-3 first inning.
Dustin Martin started the Wings' first inning off with a ground rule double. Jeff Bailey worked a walk. Trevor Plouffe hit into a 5-4 fielders choice removing Bailey from the base path but advancing Martin to third base. Bates hit a one out double scoring both Martin and Plouffe, allowing the Wings to take an early 2-0 lead.
Baldwin gave up his first hit in the second inning to John Bowker, who with one out stole second base. He scored on a Eric Fryer single, cutting the Wings lead in half. Baldwin worked out of trouble getting two quick fly ball outs to end the inning.
Nick Romero started the second inning off for Rochester with a walk that was followed by a Chase Lambin single. With one out and runners on first and second base Martin hit a sacrifice fly that advanced Lambin to third. The Indians ended the scoring threat and the inning by getting Bailey to ground out.
Gorkys Hernandez lead the third inning off for Indianapolis with a single but was immediately caught stealing second base by Steve Holm. Baldwin walked the next batter, but got two quick outs.
Baldwin worked his second 1-2-3 inning of the game in the fifth inning striking out two and worked quickly in the sixth getting the two batters out before giving up back-to-back singles. He worked out of trouble inducing a fly out to end the inning.
Bates doubled again in the sixth and was followed by a Mike Hollimon walk. Toby Gardenhire loaded the bases on a sacrifice bunt and throwing error by the Indians. Romero worked a walk and earned an RBI scoring Bates, giving the Wings a 3-1 advantage. Justin Thomas came in to relieve Indians starter Rudy Owens with bases loaded and no outs. Lambin was hit by a pitch that scored Hollimon. Holm hit a two RBI single adding to the Wings lead. After getting Martin to hit into a double play, Jose Ascanio relieved Thomas. Bailey reached first base on a Indians throwing error that scored Lambin. Plouffe ended in the inning striking out but not before Rochester took a 7-1 lead.
Carlos Gutierrez came in to relieve Baldwin for the Wings. Baldwin gave up only one run on five hits, walking two, striking out three in his six innings of work. Gutierrez struck out his first two batters before giving up a double. He ended the inning getting the final batter to ground out.
Dusty Hughes worked the ninth for the Wings, allowing three runs. Hughes was replaced by Anthony Slama, who came in to get the final out of the game.
