The Red Wings' first season as the Twins' Triple-A affiliate was the team's sixth consecutive losing season. Beginning in , however, the team began to turn their fortunes around. In both 2004 and , the Red Wings finished in second place in the North Division with records of 73–71 and 75–69, respectively. The turnaround was capped in when Rochester, now under the leadership of Stan Cliburn, advanced to the International League playoffs as the Wild Card with a record of 79–64. The Red Wings then beat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons three games to one in the best-of-five semifinal series but lost to the Toledo Mud Hens in five games, three games to two, in the best-of-five Governors' Cup series.