Wings Edge Yanks
July 30, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
Dave Gassner held the first place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees to just three baserunners in six innings, and Jose Morales hit a homer and a double to power the Red Wings to a 3-2 win Monday night at Frontier Field. The win moved the Wings to within two games of the first place Yankees, with the final game of the series Tuesday at Frontier. Monday's win also helped Rocheser keep pace in the wild card race with both Buffalo and Durham, who won their games Monday.
To start the game, Scranton lead-off hitter Kevin Thompson reached first base on an error by third baseman Tommy Watkins. Watkins then recovered from his error by recovering a ground ball and converting it into a double play. Rochester starter Gassner allowed Kevin Reese to get into scoring position but the Wings infield quickly ended the threat as Erubiel Durazo grounded out to end the inning.
The Wings got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Morales slammed a home run into the right field bullpen for a solo home run; his second home run of the season. Yankees starter Steven White was able to hold the Wings to a 1-0 lead by striking out Watkins to end the inning.
The Wings increased their lead in the third. With one out, White walked Gil Velazquez, who moved to second off a sacrifice bunt by Denard Span. Matt Tolbert then hit directly to the pitcher, who fumbled the ball, allowing Tolbert to land safely on first and advance Velazquez to third. With two outs, Darnell McDonald walked to load the bases, followed by Garrett Jones walking to plate Velazquez and keep the bases loaded. The Wings were held on base as Chris Heintz flew out to centerfield to end the inning with the Wings lead, 2-0.
Gassner continued pitching a solid game. Over the first five innings, Gassner only allowed one hit and only one inning (both being the first) where the Yankees had more that three batters.
Scranton cut into Rochester's lead in the sixth. Watkins made a great play to start the inning by throwing out Andy Cannizaro at first. Gassner allowed his second hit of the game to Juan Francia for a single. Francia then stole second base in a controversial play by Thompson who struck out then seemed to interfere with Heintz's throw to second. This caused an argument by Yankees manager Dave Miley and home plate umpire Andy Vincent, which resulted in Miley and Thompson being thrown out of the game. Cannizaro was brought home as Justin Christian ripped a hit to right centerfield for a triple. Christian was stranded on third as Reese grounded out to end the inning, with the score 2-1.
The Wings matched the Yankees' run in the bottom of the sixth, when Morales stroked a ground rule double that bounced into the Scranton bullpen in left field. Jones scored to put Rochester up 3-1.
Gassner left after six innings, allowing a total of three hits and a pair of strikeouts. Julio DePaula came out of the bullpen and after a one-out walk to Eric Duncan followed by a balk, DePaula made up for the mistake by picking Duncan off second for the second out. But after DePaula walked Alberto Gonzalez, he ended the inning by striking out Wil Nieves.
The Yankees also made a pitching change in the seventh, bringing in Joba Chamberlain. He struck out all three Rochester batters, pitching at a highest recorded speed of 99 mph.
With closer Bobby Korecky on in the ninth, Scranton added a run on an RBI sacrifice fly by Durazo. Korecky got a grounder to first from Eric Duncan for the final out, his 29th save, and a key win for the Wings.
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