IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Gassner return keys Wings win

Published on August 8, 2006 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


Dave Gassner returned to the mound at Frontier Field and tossed five innings of one-hit baseball, boosting the Red Wings to a 1-0 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox Tuesday night at Frontier Field. With Scranton's 2-0 win over Syracuse Tuesday, the Wings and Scranton remain in a first place tie for the International League North Division lead.

The Red Wings posted a first inning run against Paw Sox starter Kason Gabbard (1-6). Lew Ford ripped a double to left field, and Quinton McCracken moved Ford to a third base with a ground ball out to the right side. Garrett Jones delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate Ford and put the Wings on top 1-0.

Gassner, a 16-game winner with the Wings in 2004, was making his fourth appearance of the season and first for Rochester after off-season elbow surgery. Gassner (1-0) worked easily throught the first two innings, helped by a double play in the first inning and a fine play at third base by Terry Tiffee to take a hit away from Tyler Minges in the second. Gassner fanned a pair in the second inning, two more in the third and one in the fifth - finishing his day with a worksheet of five scoreless innings, one hit, three walks and one hit batter to go with the five strikeouts.

Henry Bonilla relieved Gassner in the sixth inning, and got a big assist - figuratively and literally - in the top of the seventh. Bonilla walked Jeff Bailey to start the inning, then centerfielder Ford tracked down Ron Calloway's fly ball to the wall for the first out. Minges drilled a sinking line drive to right field that looked like it would drop for a base hit; McCracken made a running catch for the second out, then fired a strike to Jones at first base to double off Bailey for an inning-ending double play.

In the eighth inning McCracken again made an inning-ending play, which was also a run-saving play. With Beau Kemp on in relief and runners on first and third with two outs, Trent Durrington stroked a sinking line drive to right field. McCracken made a sliding catch to snag the ball from falling in and end the inning.

Boston Red Sox reliever Keith Foulke pitched the seventh inning, as part of his rehab assignment with Pawtucket. Foulke walked two in his one inning of work, allowing a single and striking out a batter.

NOTES: Gassner was on a pitch count limit of 75 pitches, and actually threw 99 pitches, 55 for strikes. Click here for a QuickTime movie clip of Gassner talking after the game about being back on the mound at Frontier Field...Kemp picked up his third save of the season... Shawn Wooten was ejected by home plate umpire Pete Pederson in the eighth after striking out against Barry Hertzler...The Minnesota Twins promoted righthanded pitcher Matt Garza from Rochester Tuesday. In five starts for the Red Wings, Garza was 3-1, 1.85 (34.0 ip, 7 er), allowing 20 hits with seven walks and 33 strikeouts. To make room for Garza on the 25-man roster, the Twins have optioned righthanded pitcher Mike Smith to R! ochester. Jason Miller will be pitching in Garza's spot for Wednesday's 11:05 AM day game, and Smith will start Sunday...RHP J.D Durbin (shoulder strain) will not pitch again this season...With Monday night's win, the Red Wings moved to an International League best 14-3 in extra inning games this season. Rochester has won nine of their last 10 and 16 of their last 20 extra inning games dating back to last season. The 14 extra-inning wins are the most by an International League team since the 1989 Syracuse Chiefs (15-5) in extra frames....After his game-tying grand slam Monday, Tiffee now has eight career grand slams, and is batting .451 (32-for-71) with the bases loaded in his career. As a Red Wing Tiffee is 12-for-26 .462 with five grand slams and 41 RBI with the bases full.

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International League Stories from August 8, 2006


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