Blackburn Outduels Igawa
Published on June 3, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
Nick Blackburn brought a perfect game into the sixth inning, getting the winning decision as the Red Wings beat Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 4-1 Sunday afternoon at Frontier Field.
New York Yankees pitcher Kei Igawa started for Scranton, after speculation that he would be called up to pitch for New York on Monday. Igawa, who signed a five-year, $20 million contract, made his second Triple-A start after being demoted from New York to Class A Tampa in the Florida State League. Igawa received a Rochester greeting from Wings leadoff hitter Alexi Casilla, who blasted a 2-1 pitch from Igawa to left for a home run. It was Casilla's first homer of the year; Casilla hit only one home run all of last year.
The game remained dominated by pitching into the fourth inning. In the bottom of the inning, Matt Tolbert led off with a solid single to center field. After a Glenn Williams strikeout, Garrett Jones hit a one hopper that went off the the first baseman's glove and Jones was able to slide safely into the bag just ahead of the diving fielder. Matthew LeCroy loaded the bases after working a walk setting the table to Tommy Watkins who walked, forcing in the second run of the game. Doug Deeds hit a soft line drive that was snared by the shortstop, who tossed to second to double off LeCroy at second to prevent further damage.
Blackburn did not allow a base runner until the sixth inning, when a line drive to centerfield went off the tip of Denard Span's glove and fell in for a double. Blackburn did not seem affected by the hit and retired the next two batters in order to escape the inning unscathed.
The ball game remained close in the late innings, but the Wings scraped across two late runs. In the seventh, Deeds scored with the help of a Scranton miscue and Casilla's third hit of the game. Tolbert also scored in the eighth just before Williams was tagged out in rundown for the final out of the inning while he tried to steal second base.
Igawa (0-2) pitched effectively for Scranton, striking out nine batters while allowing two earned runs over his seven innings pitched. However, he was out-duelled by Blackburn (1-1) who scattered four hits over eight fantastic innings of work, throwing only 88 pitches to pick up the win. Closer Bobby Korecky pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 13th save of the season.
NOTES: Tolbert (strained oblique muscle) made his first appearance since May 18 and had one hit and two runs scored. His .356 average was leading the league before his injury, but Tolbert currently doesn't have enough plate appearances to officially qualify among league leaders... Deeds now has a seven-game hitting streak, and Jones has a six-game streak...The left-handed hitting Jones entered the game with an amazing .378 average against left-handed pitchers..Class-A Fort Myers leads the Florida State League in pitching with a 2.93 ERA, despite a 22-32 record entering play Sunday...Class-A Beloit's pitching staff also leads their league, with a 2.70 staff ERA that's tops in the Midwest League...Belo! it closer Rob Delaney leads the league with 18 saves.
International League Stories from June 3, 2007
- Three Homers In Third Good Enough For Bulls - Durham Bulls
- Long Ball Lifts Indians To 5-2 Win Over Knights - Indianapolis Indians
- Braves Crush Lynx - Gwinnett Stripers
- Blackburn Outduels Igawa - Rochester Red Wings
- Lynx Fall To Braves - Ottawa Lynx
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
- Tides rained out Sunday - Norfolk Tides
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