Same story, same score, different day.
After making a tough-luck loser out of Simeon Woods Richardson, who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning Friday, the Rochester Red Wings ruined a solid start from St. Paul Saints starting pitcher Randy Dobnak when Kevin Plawecki drove a 3-2 pitch from Jorge Alcala 411 feet into left-center field for a walk-off, 2-1 Red Wings victory Saturday afternoon at Innovative Field in Rochester, N.Y.
The home run was Plawecki’s first of the season, and just his ninth since 2019.
Dobnak gave the Saints (15-10) four solid innings, leaving runners stranded in the first, second and third innings before allowing his lone run in the fourth on a solo homer from Nomar Mazara. Dobnak gave up five hits in all, striking out one and not giving up a walk in his start. Alcala took the loss.
The Red Wings (9-16) carried the 1-0 lead into the eighth inning, but the St. Paul offense finally came alive in the frame, when Andrew Stevenson singled and Ryan LaMarre crushed a double to bring him home. LaMarre took third on a run down after obstruction was called, but Andrew Bechtold couldn’t bring home the go-ahead run, grounding out to end the inning.
Kody Funderburk made his Triple-A debut for the Saints out of the bullpen, delivering 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out one.
The two teams meet again at 12:05 p.m. Sunday for the finale of their six-game series. Aaron Sanchez will start for St. Paul.
