BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A day after winning International League Player of the Week, the James Wood show returned to Innovative Field, as the No. 5 prospect in baseball went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI in Rochester’s 7-5 win over the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday.
The 6’7” outfielder hit .455 last week, scoring 10 runs on 10 hits, including five home runs, while driving in 12 RBI during the Wings’ series in Scranton. The opening act of his campaign for a repeat went well, as he singled to lead off the fourth before scoring, drove in the go-ahead run to give the Red Wings a 4-3 lead in the fifth, and added an insurance run in the eighth on a scorching 107.9 MPH RBI single to center. He also drew a walk in the sixth inning, coming back from an 0-2 count in an impressive nine-pitch at-bat.
“I’m just trying to be consistent,” said Wood of his recent success. “I’m just trying to get myself prepared, [and] sometimes the game just goes your way a little bit more times than others.”
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Billy McMillon, filling in for manager Matt LeCroy as he attends his daughter’s high school graduation, believes the 21-year-old is fulfilling more of his potential.
“He’s starting to really come into his own,” he said. “His work in the cages has been solid, and he never strays from his approach. It’s really good to see that get rewarded during the game.”
Second baseman Darren Baker paved the way for Wood’s heroics, going 3-for-5 with a double and two stolen bases while scoring both of the runs that Wood drove in.
“He’s the best, man,” said Baker of Wood. “We have a lot of talks off-the-field about how much I appreciate him bringing me in. He’s the man, and knowing I have him behind me makes it easier.”
After starting over an hour and a half late due to rain showers, pitching dominated the first two innings. Red Wings starter Robert Gsellman opened the game with two straight 1-2-3 innings. Buffalo’s starter, rehabbing Toronto Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis, was equally shutdown,allowed a leadoff single by Baker but then set down six straight, finishing his two-inning stint by striking out four.
Rochester broke through in the bottom of the third, however, thanks to shortstop Jack Dunn. With one out, the Georgia native got all of a Troy Watson fastball, launching a towering 101.5 MPH shot 360 feet to left for a solo home run to put the Red Wings up, 1-0.
Buffalo struck back the following half inning, loading the bases and driving away Gsellman. Singles by Leo Jimenez and Spencer Horwitz later in the inning drove in three runs, giving the Bisons the 3-1 lead.
The Red Wings weren’t behind for long: Wood led off the inning with a single to center and the rehabbing Joey Gallo walked. Although Travis Blankenhorn struck out, Drew Millas followed with a single to left to load the bases. It appeared that the rally would end without any damage, though, as Juan Yepez popped out and then Carter Kieboom hit a grounder right at Buffalo second baseman Orelvis Martinez. Martinez muffed the play, however, letting the ball into left as two scored on the error to tie the game at three.
The Wings moved ahead, 4-3, on Woods single to left in the fifth. Two more scored in the sixth, when Alex Call hit a ball 365 feet to left. It appeared the hit was destined for the visitors’ bullpen and a home run, but Bisons left fielder Nathan Lukes attempted a home run robbery. Although he was unable to cleanly catch the ball, he was able to knock it back into the field of play, allowing two runs to score as Call hustled to third for a triple.
Buffalo’s Addison Barger narrowed the gap with a seventh inning home run, but Rochester scored one last time in the eighth, when Wood brought home Baker to make it 7-4.
Although the Bisons threatened in the ninth by scoring a run and getting the tying runs on base, Rico Garcia was able to finish the save to get the Red Wings back to .500 at 18-18.
Post-game, Wood was asked if he believes he is near a big league debut, and whether such a possibility is on his mind. With his hot hitting and some injury concerns in Washington (Jesse Winker had to DH on Tuesday due to back spasms, while Jacob Young took a pitch off his right hand during a bunt), some have speculated a call up may be closing in fast.
Wood, though, says he’s focused on the right now:
“Obviously, that’s the goal,” he said. “But I’m just really trying to stay focused on what I can accomplish here every day.”
Over the past few games, what he’s accomplished has been a lot.
He and the Red Wings continue their series with Buffalo on Wednesday at 6:05 P.M. Right-hander Thaddeus Ward (1-1, 5.88) is scheduled to face Buffalo righty Chad Dallas (1-2, 7.16).
This is one of the more potent lineups the Wings have had in awhile. If Wood gets recalled, it will suffer some for sure.
But all of this is nullified by perhaps the worst run of pitching over the past 3 years that I can recall. Washington system is so bereft of arms its embarrassing.
Used to be a blowout was a rare thing over an entire season..maybe 3 or 4. Wings are getting one per week. Whoever they march out to the hill either can’t throw strikes or has no location or movement to get batters out. Not a small sample size anymore. The staff is a complete mess…again. When team ERA over a complete season is between 5.00 and 6.00 you know you have problems. Its totally unacceptable at any level. And definitely no fun to watch the opponent scoring 8 and 9 runs in an inning.
I readily admit I don’t like the Gnats but I’m willing to modify if they can somehow get us a decent AAA team in Rochester. Winning does trump all biases