Wings win third straight

Charlotte 3 at Rochester 6

W: D. Graves (2-0, 3.05); L: W. Whisler (5-3, 2.91); SV: T. Lahey (7)
HR: CHA: B. Eldred (19), D. Richar (1).

Jim Mandelaro wrote in his blog Extra Bases that "Danny Graves is a reliever forced to be a starter."

Perhaps that is the case, but Graves worked well as a starter on Wednesday night allowing 3 runs on 8 hits and 1 walks while striking out 3 over 5.2 innings.

Ricky Barrett and Tim Lahey picked up the relief work as the Rochester Red Wings went to defeat the Charlotte Knights, 6-3 at Frontier Stadium.

Jerry Owens would double for the Knights with 2 outs in the top of the 3rd. Juan Uribe then singled to bring him in for an early Charlotte lead.

The Wings took it back in the bottom of the inning however, when Tommy Watkins doubled out to left, then came home on a Jason Pridie single.

Sergio Santos and Ryan Jorgenson hit back-to-back singles to start out the bottom of the 5th. Chris Basak then doubled the pair in. Watkins would move Basak to 3rd on a sac bunt, and he would score on a Pridie's grounder to center.

With one out in the board in the top of the 6th, Graves would allow back-to-back single shot home runs to Danny Richar and Brad Eldred. He would strike out Josh Fields before Barrett was brought in to relieve him, falling just shy of a quality start.

Darnell McDonald walked in the bottom of the 2nd, then stole 2nd base. He would move to 3rd on Brian Buscher's ground out. Garrett Jones' line drive single plated him to make it 5-3 Wings.

The final run came in the bottom of the 8th, when Watkins walked with 2 outs on the board. He'd move to second on a passed ball, and 3rd on a wild pitch. Pridie then tripled to bring him in.

All in all it was good night for the former Miracle who when 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk and 2 runs. Pridie was 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs. Jones was 2-for-4 with 1 RBI, and Randy Ruiz was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Brian Buscher had his 15-game hitting streak at Frontier Field snapped after an 0-for-4 night.

Stan Cliburn now has an 183-167 record as manager of the Rochester Red Wings. Stan needs just 17 more wins to be only the sixth manager since 1963 to compile 200 wins in his first three seasons (Joe Altobelli 1971-73, 241 wins; Greg Biagini 1989-91, 237 wins; Darrell Johnson 1963-65, 230 wins; Marv Foley 1995-1997, 228 wins and Phil Roof 2003-05 216 wins).

The two teams finish up the 4-game series with a morning contest. Kevin Mulvey (2-6, 4.10) will throw out the first pitch at 11:05 AM.

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