IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Buffalo Rallies Over Wings

July 1, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


Mike Rose led off the 10th inning with a home run off Bobby Korecky, as the first place Buffalo Bisons rallied to defeat the Red Wings 8-7 Sunday night at Frontier Field. Jose Morales had four hits and Gil Velazquez homered for the Wings. The loss dropped Rochester four games behind the Bisons. The two teams meet in Buffalo Monday and Tuesday, with the Wings returning home for five games starting with Wednesday's Independence Day celebration and post-game fireworks.

Jason Miller, taking the starting rotation spot of Matt Garza after Garza's promotion to Minnesota, started the game by striking out the first batter. Buffalo moved into scoring position off an error and a single. Miller picked off a runner on second and Tommy Watkins made a diving catch to get the Wings out of trouble in the first.

Buffalo put numbers on the scoreboard in the second inning. Miller had a rough time as Andy Marte hit a home run that landed in the Bisons' bullpen. Two batters later, Brad Snyder crushed a home run far past right field to give Buffalo a 2-0 lead.

The Wings rallied for the lead in a run-filled third inning. Velazquez started the inning with a line drive down left field for a single. He advanced to second on a bunt by Alexi Casilla that landed Casilla on first. Both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Watkins. Buffalo starting pitcher Jeremy Sowers then walked Darnell McDonald to load the bases. Garrett Jones came up to bat and slammed a ball to an open space in the outfield for an RBI triple bringing in three runs for the Wings. Ken Harvey, after having been activated from the DL on Saturday, hit a barely fair RBI double plating Jones. Harvey then scored the fifth run for the Wings off Morales' RBI single to bring the score to 5-2.

The Wings got into trouble as Buffalo closed the gap in the sixth inning. Julio DePaula came in to relieve Miller and started the inning by walking the first two batters. DePaula allowed a base hit by Rose that loaded the bases. Keith Ginter scored a run off a sacrifice play as the other runners stayed on base. Both then moved into scoring position off a wild pitch. DePaula got the second out before he was relieved by Brian Bass. Buffalo scored their second run of the inning when Marte ran home off a wild pitch by Bass. The Wings were able to end the inning still holding onto the lead, 5-4.

The Wings answered Buffalo's run in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Velazquez drilled a ball over the left field bullpen for a solo home run, increasing the Wings lead to 6-4. It was Velazquez' first home run of the year.

Lead off batter Watkins hit a line drive for a double in the seventh. McDonald then made it to first on a strong over throw error by the shortstop. Increasing the Wings lead, Watkins scored off a sacrifice fly by Jones. McDonald then stole second but was stranded as Buffalo was able to hold the Wings to a score of 7-4.

Ricky Barrett came into the game with one out and one on, and gave up an infield single off the glove of Casilla. Barrett fanned Brad Snyder for the second out, then Jonathan Van Every got credit for a run-scoring infield hit on another great attempt by Casilla. Korecky relieved Barrett and retired Hector Luna to escape with the Wings holding a 7-5 lead.

The Bisons staged a ninth inning rally against Korecky, starting with Luis Rivas reaching first on a throwing error by Brian Buscher. Joe Inglett followed with a double down the right field line to put the tying runs in scoring position with none out. Ryan Mulhern blooped a single to right to pull the Bisons within one run, and Ginter's RBI sacrifice fly plated Inglett to tie the game. Korecky had been successful in 18 of his 20 save opportunities this season.

Watkins led off the bottom of the ninth by ripping a single to left, and moved to second on McDonald's sacrifice bunt. The Bisons made a pitching change, with Juan Lara coming in to face Jones. Jones swung at the first pitch and popped up for the second out, then Lara's wild pitch put Watkins at third. But Lara fanned Glenn Williams on a 3-2 pitch to send the game into extra innings.

Buffalo's lead off batter Rose scored the winning run with a solo home run in the tenth inning. With two pinch hitters, Rochester was unable to score in the tenth to end the game. Korecky took the loss for Rochester and Lara was given the win.

NOTES: Morales raised his batting average to .363...Fans who won the "Take Me Fishing" contest held earlier this season spent Sunday morning fishing at Powdermill Park with players Chris Heintz and Josh Rabe, Stan and Stu Cliburn and Red Wings front office staffers. Check out the Hahn Photographic Pics of the Day to see photos. from the outing...Twins Johan Santana, Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter were named to the American League All-Star Team on Sunday. Pat Neshek is one of five final candidates to be voted ! onto the AL squad; vote for Pat now by clicking here... Brock Peterson smacked a homer and had a career-high six RBI to power the Twins' Double-A New Britain club to a 10-9 win over host Reading on Sunday. Peterson ripped an RBI double in the fourth inning, smacked his 11th homer with a man aboard in the sixth and doubled home three runs to key a five-run seventh, erasing a 7-5 deficit, to put the Rock Cats (37-41) ahead for good. New Britain reliever Jose Mijares (3-0) allowed one run on a hit and three walks while striking out one in one inning to pick up the win. Tim Lahey gave up a run on three hits, fanning one without issuing a walk in 2 1/3 frames to record his third save....! Canadian pop-punk rock! stars Hawk Nelson headlined the pregame Faith Tour concert in the Walk of Fame area. The band, who portrayed The Who in an episode of the NBC series "American Dreams," has also appeared in the film "Yours, Mine and Ours" with Dennis Quaid. Check out pics of the band's Sunday performance at Frontier in our Pics of the Day section; check out HawkNelson.com and myspace.com/hawknelsononline for more on the band...The Red Wings (42-39 record) need three more wins in their final eight games before the All-Star break to have their fourth consecutive winn! ing record at the All-Star break. Rochester will need their third consecutive winning second half of the season to make a playoff push. Since 2005 the Wings have a 55-51 record after the All-Star break...The Bisons lead the season series 4-2. A season ago, Buffalo won the season series 9-7. The Red Wings were 4-4 at Frontier Field and 3-5 at Dunn Tire Park.

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