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Red Wings defeat Bats, 13-9

May 5, 2009 - International League (IL) Louisville Bats

Louisville, KY - The Rochester Red Wings guaranteed themselves at least a split of a four-game series against the Louisville Bats on a beautiful Tuesday night in front of 7,340 fans, as they defeated the Bats 13-9 in a three hour and twenty-three minute game at Louisville Slugger Field.

Following a night in which the Bats committed four errors, they did the same again tonight. The Bats now have 31 errors on the season, leading the International League.

The Red Wings jumped on the Bats in the top of the first as Red Wings outfielder, Jason Pridie, extended his International League second-best hitting streak to 16 games with a single to lead off the game. Pridie was knocked in on third baseman Luke Hughes' double to start the scoring in the three-run first inning.

The game remained 3-0 in favor of the Red Wings until the top of the fifth when they struck again. The Red Wings opened the inning with back-to-back singles by second baseman, Matt Tolbert, and Hughes. They were subsequently brought home on a throwing error and a walk to make the game 5-0. A Red Wings' sacrifice fly, a passed ball, and a fielder's choice, plated three more runs in the inning, giving the Red Wings a 8-0 advantage. In the top of the fifth, the Red Wings scored five runs on only two hits in the inning.

The Bats got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning by shortstop Chris Valaika and third baseman Luis Bolivar. They were knocked in on outfielder Norris Hopper's double, making the score 8-2 in favor of the Red Wings.

The Red Wings played add-on in the top of the sixth with a lead-off single by Tolbert, followed by a two-run home run by Hughes, his fourth of the year, making the score 10-2.

Bats' first baseman, Wes Bankston led off the bottom of the sixth with a strike out and had some words for home plate umpire, Chris Bakke. After Bankston returned to the dug-out, Rick Sweet made his way to have words with Bakke himself. After words were exchanged, Bakke ejected Sweet, who was managing in his 600th game for the Bats.

It was the first time Sweet had been ejected from a game since August 4, 2007, at Richmond. Bankston also was later ejected heading into the bottom of the seventh inning for further disagreements with the umpire.

The Red Wings scored yet again in the top of the seventh, as Pridie doubled in shortstop Trevor Plouffe to make the score 11-2.

The Bats showed signs of life in the bottom of the eighth, starting the inning with five straight hits. Hopper doubled to lead off the inning, and was moved to third on a single by second baseman, Drew Sutton, who made his debut with the Bats tonight. Danny Dorn, who entered the game for Bankston following the ejection, singled Hopper in to make the score 11-3. Designated hitter Kevin Barker singled in Sutton, and Dorn was subsequently knocked in on outfielder Jonny Gomes' fifth double of the season. Barker was able to score on a wild pitch by Red Wings reliever, Armando Gabino to make the score 11-6.

But, the Bats couldn't do any more damage as they failed to capitalize on a bases loaded opportunity with one out, as they hit back-to-back pop ups to end the inning.

The Red Wings responded in the ninth by extending their lead to 13-6, as Tolbert picked up his third hit of the game, knocking in two runs. Tolbert followed a four-hit game last night with a three-hit game tonight.

Jonny Gomes blasted his fourth home run of the year in the ninth, to make it 13-9, and that is how the game would end.

Tolbert and Hughes each collected three hits for the Red Wings. Tolbert finished 3-for-6, with two RBI's and two runs scored, and Hughes finished 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI's and three runs scored.

Hopper went 3-for-5 with two RBI's and a run scored to push his average to .311. Gomes went 2-for-5 with a home run, and 4 RBI's.

Adam Pettyjohn (0-3, 4.60 ERA) started and took the loss for the Bats. He continued his hard luck against the Red Wings as he went 0-2 with a 10.33 ERA against them last season. He surrendered seven hits and eight runs, although only three were earned in four plus innings, while walking three and striking out only one.

Reid Santos started for the Red Wings. He cruised through the first four innings, but ran into a little trouble in the fifth. After giving up the two runs in the fifth, he was pulled in favor of fire-balling reliever, Juan Morillo, and was not given the chance to pick up the win, as he would have needed to pitch a minimum of five innings.

Morillo (1-0, 6.23), a few days removed from being optioned by the Minnesota Twins, picked up the win in relief. He pitched two-and-two-third innings, surrendering four hits, three runs and struck out five.

The Bats fall to 13-12 on the season, but remain in first place in the West Division as the Toledo Mud Hens lost 4-0 at Pawtucket.

The Red Wings and Bats will be back in action tomorrow night at 7:05 at Louisville Slugger Field for game three. The probable starters are LHP Matt Maloney (2-0, 2.59) for the Bats, and RHP Anthony Swarzak (1-3, 2.25) for the Red Wings.

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International League Stories from May 5, 2009


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