Ninth Inning Rally Extends Wings' Win Streak
August 9, 2008 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
Jason Pridie's two-RBI triple in the bottom of the ninth extended the Wings' winning streak to six games overall and 10 straight at Frontier Field as the Red Wings beat Indianapolis 6-5 Saturday night. Pridie's triple came after Luis Ordaz hit a ninth inning home run that put the Tribe ahead 5-4.
Trevor Plouffe started the rally with a single to lead off the ninth off Indianapolis closer, Jesse Chavez (1-4). Sergio Santos followed with a base hit of his own putting runners on first and second with no outs. However, Jeff Christy's sacrifice bunt attempt was unsuccessful as the Indians were able to cut down Plouffe at third. Luckily that made no difference. Christy was able to score the winning run from first as Pridie's line drive got over the outstreched glove of right-fielder Matt Kata.
Anthony Swarzak, making his first career start at Frontier Field and his third overall since being called up from New Britain on July 28th, got himself into trouble in the first. Swarzak allowed the first two hitters to reach on a walk and base hit, before bearing down and retiring three straight batters to keep the Indians off the board. Swarzak had pitched well in his first two starts for the Wings, going 2-0 with a 2.25 era and seven strikeouts in 12 innings of work.
The Wings gave Swarzak some runs to work with in the bottom of the first against Indians stater Jimmy Barthmaier. Pridie reached on a walk to start the inning before a hard rain swept through the Rochester area delaying the game for the second straight night for 32 minutes. When play resumed, Alejandro Machado executed a perfect hit-and-run with a single through the vacated spot at shortstop, extending his hit streak to 18 games, and putting runners on first and third with no outs. Clark brought home the game's first run with a base hit to right scoring Pridie. Garrett Jones followed with an RBI groundout putting Rochester ahead 2-0 after an inning.
The Wings threatened to extend the lead with a two-out rally in the fifth inning. Pridie extended his hit streak to 16 games with a two out single up the middle. Machado followed with a swinging bunt between the pitchers mound and third base and Clark walked to load the bases for Jones. But Jones grounded weakly to second base ending the threat.
The Indians finally got to Swarzak in the seventh inning. Ryan Mulhern hit a blast over the left field scoreboard cutting the Wings lead in half. After a single by Luis Cruz followed the home run, Nyjer Morgan doubled to the gap in left-center scoring Cruz and tying the game at two.
Swarzak was pulled in favor of Tim Lahey after the seventh. Swarzak allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three in his seven innings of work. The Tribe got to Lahey for two runs in the eighth on RBI hits by Ronny Paulino and Jason Delaney putting Indianapolis ahead by a 4-2 count.
But the lead did not last long. After a Machado walk to lead off the bottom of the eighth, Clark mashed a home run down the right field line knotting the game at four.
Ordaz's home run came off Mariano Gomez with one out in the ninth. Gomez would strike out the side in the inning and earn his fourth win of the year.
International League Stories from August 9, 2008
- CF Jason Pridie Lifts Red Wings To Win With A Two-Run Walk-Off Triple - Indianapolis Indians
- Ninth Inning Rally Extends Wings' Win Streak - Rochester Red Wings
- Bulls fall to Braves, magic number still 13 - Durham Bulls
- Big Fifth Inning Helps End Bat's Streak, Clippers Win 11-5 - Louisville Bats
- Indians Return To Victory Field Tuesday - Indianapolis Indians
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
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