Duensing Deals, Ruiz Rocks in Wings Win
April 24, 2008 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
Brian Duensing pitched seven strong innings, and Randy Ruiz drove in four runs to lead the Red Wings over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 8-2 Thursday night at Frontier Field. The tough luck IronPigs have now lost nine straight contests, and fell to 0-14 on the road.
Duensing opposed Lehigh Valley's Ron Chiavacci, one of the league's top hurlers in 2007 with Toledo's Western Division Champion club. Chiavacci has been the lone bright spot in the IronPigs' rotation, with a 17 1/3 scoreless inning streak that ended when he was roughed up by Syracuse last Saturday.
Duensing took the mound with Twins GM Bill Smith and farm director Jim Rantz watching from the stands, on a day when Twins lefty Francisco Liriano was rocked for six runs in less than an inning in Oakland. Duensing shined through the first three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four. He was helped out by fine defensive plays from first baseman Ruiz and centerfielder Pridie.
Jason Pridie didn't waste any time in extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Pridie stroked a one-out Chiavacci pitch to the gap in left-center, for a first inning triple. It was Pridie's fourth three-bagger of the season, tied for tops in the league. Darnell McDonald walked and stole second before Garrett Jones belted a shot to right-centerfield. Javon Moran made a tremendous running catch, turning what would have been a bases-clearing hit for Jones into a run-scoring sacrifi! ce fly and the Wings led 1-0.
The Wings added a in the third inning. Jones singled and Clark doubled, with Jones scoring on a sacrifice fly by Ruiz. Jose Morales singled to bring home Clark, with Morales scurrying around to third when left fielder Michael Spidale's throw skipped past catcher Tim Gradoville for a two-base error.
The IronPigs finally got to Duensing with two outs in the fourth, when Andy Tracy homered into the right field bullpen to make it a 3-1 game. Duensing recovered from the hit to set down the next eight Lehigh Valley hitters.
The Red Wings added their fourth and fifth runs in the fifth inning when with one out, Ruiz smoked a double that hugged the first base line and scored Jones, who had hit a single to lead off the inning. In the next at-bat Morales hit the ball right past Chiavacci to score Ruiz. After Chiavacci induced a double play to end the inning, he was replaced by reliever Vic Darensbourg, who came in for the start of the sixth.
Valentino Pascucci floated a ball over Clark with two outs in the seventh to become the first hitter to reach base since Tracy hit the home run.
The Red Wings extended their lead to six runs as Ruiz, with Clark on base after a walk, blasted a home run over the left field fence, making the score 7-1. McDonald's RBI single brought home the final Rochester run.
Duensing's worksheet: seven innings, three hits, one earned run and five strikeouts. Ricky Barrett tossed a scoreless relief inning, and Carmen Cali allowed a two-out solo home run to Mike Cervenak in the ninth.
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