By: Liam Hoffmann
ROCHESTER, NY-- In Game 1 of Rochester's first series of the year versus the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Red Wings hit four homers en route to a 15-4 win. Joey Meneses, Brady House, Jack Dunn and Drew Millas all went deep.
Right fielder Travis Blankenhorn has had his contract selected by the Washington Nationals in light of the trade that sent Washington center fielder Lane Thomas to the Cleveland Guardians. In last week's series versus the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Blankenhorn had five four-baggers but the home run production was hardly scaled down tonight in his absence.
Each home run for Rochester brought in a pair of runs. House was 2-for-4 on the night with four runs driven in and Meneses hit 2-for-3 with three RBI and reached base on balls twice. Dylan Crews collected a double and two singles from his leadoff spot.
Yesterday, shortstop José Tena was acquired by the Nationals as part of a trade that sent center fielder Lane Thomas to the Cleveland Guardians. Tena started at shortstop for Rochester tonight and hit second behind Crews.
"I was shocked when they told me [Tena] would be here tonight for the game and that says a lot about the kid," Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. "I'm looking forward to watching him play and hopefully he can get into the big leagues. All the reports I've read have all been really positive."
Andrew Luckham started on the mound for the Red Wings. Across five innings pitched, he surrendered three earned runs with one home run while adding four strikeouts. The bullpen was effective, turning in three innings with one run allowed while fanning five.
"Luckham made one mistake, that was it, the homer," LeCroy said. "He threw more strikes and he was able to throw some secondary pitches for strikes when he was behind, even though he wasn't behind a lot."
Rochester tallied two runs early before some rain threatened to suspend the game. They came on the bat of Meneses' two-run homer that scored Crews. Meneses had two home runs in last week's series versus the IronPigs and he was able to pick up where he left off tonight in the first. Crews earlier singled from Rochester's leadoff spot. House walked before the eventual expiration of the frame.
"I've been working in the cage on my rhythm and my separation...I've been feeling much better," Meneses said.
"When I was in the big leagues, I was doing well but I came down here to work and I hope to be back there soon," Meneses said, translated by Nationals Minor League Operations & Player Education Coordinator Andrew Scarlata.
In the second, second baseman Jack Dunn and left fielder Darren Baker walked to put a Rochester runner in scoring position. But, Omaha pitcher Anthony Veneziano struck out the one and Red Wings’ one and two-hole hitters, Crews and Tena. With that, the second was retired.
Red Wing bats stayed hot in the third and House's three-run home run made Rochester's advantage 5-0. Drew Millas and Meneses preluded him with a single apiece to set up the runs.
Nelson Velasquez hit a three-run deep shot in the fourth to get Omaha on the scoreboard. After a called strike three on Velasquez that would have ended the half-inning, he successfully challenged the call to give himself another chance. He hit the ensuing pitch 363 feet and scored Drew Waters and Tyler Gentry, who both singled earlier in the inning.
Rochester got four runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth. Millas led off the fifth, reaching on a fielding error before getting to second on Meneses' walk. Omaha second baseman Nate Eaton committed an interference error which put both runners in scoring position. House delivered a two-run single before later scoring on Stone Garrett's sac-fly. Then, Crews hit an RBI double to drive in Dunn who earlier walked.
In the sixth, Meneses and Millas walked first. House reached on a fielder's choice after a throwing error by pitcher Austin Cox that also enabled Millas to score and Meneses to reach third. Carter Kieboom then sent a sac-fly to left field that brought Meneses across home. Dunn's homer plated himself and House to make Rochester's lead double digits at 13-3.
Millas' home run scored Rochester's final two runs. Crews hit a leadoff single in the seventh before coming home on Millas' bat.
Rochester will see Omaha again tomorrow back at Innovative Field. Jackson Rutledge (4-6, 7.31) is expected to start on the mound for the Wings. Noah Cameron will make his Triple-A debut for the Storm Chasers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
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