Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA - Three runs in the bottom of the ninth by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders gives Rochester a 5-3 loss this afternoon.

Despite two home runs by Washington Nationals outfield prospect James Wood, the Rochester Red Wings could not hold on for the win, dropping their 15th game of the 2024 season.

James Wood had another great game for the Red Wings, going 2-3 with three RBIs and one walk. He now has a batting average of .339 and an impressive OPS of .973.

Wood opened this afternoon’s scoring in the top of the third inning with his third home run of the season that went 417ft to dead center field off RHP Clayton Beeter, putting the Red Wings up 2-0 as Jackson Cluff scored. This home run marked Wood’s second-farthest home run of the season and the sixth-farthest by any Red Wing in 2024.

Wood’s second homer of the game also went to center field with a distance of 400ft in the top of the seventh. Wood’s third and fourth home runs of the season drove in all three Rochester Red Wings runs. Additionally, all four of Wood’s home runs this season have come in just two games: on April 11th at Buffalo and two in today’s game.

The Red Wings took a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth; however, with one out, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRider Brandon Lockridge hit a line-drive single to right field to put the tying run on base. The next batter, RF Everson Pereira, hit a walk-off two-run home run to complete the ninth-inning comeback and even the series at a game apiece with a final score of 5-3.

The Morning Briefing ☀️ ☕

⚾️⚾️ The Morning Briefing: Williams continues his run as DC's ace in Nats win

Haden Raymer • May 8, 2024

Good morning, Washington Nationals fans. Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, May 8. Welcome to the Morning Briefing! Haden here. Let’s talk about Trevor Williams and the Nats win.

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LHP DJ Herz was the starting pitcher for the Red Wings, getting his sixth season start. Herz went 2.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on just one hit while striking out two and walking seven. RHP Robert Gsellman took over in the bottom of the third with two outs, finishing the game with 3.1 hitless innings, four strikeouts, and allowing only one walk.

Reliever RHP Luis Reyes pitched 1.1 shoutout innings and only gave up one hit, striking out two and walking two. However, despite a lockdown bottom of the eighth by RHP Amos Willingham, the right-hander couldn’t secure the win for the Red Wings.

Next, the Rochester Red Wings will look to win tomorrow night’s game when they send RHP Thaddeus Ward to the mound. The first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m..

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