IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Grand Slam Kick Starts Win for Wings

Published on July 24, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


It was a night of home runs as the Red Wings defeated the Syracuse Chiefs 9-6 Tuesday night at Frontier Field. Denard Span's grand slam in the second inning started the Wings on a two inning scoring streak. Brian Buscher followed in the! third with a three-run homer to secure the win. The win moved the Wings to within a half-game of Buffalo for the International League wild card spot.

In his second start for the Wings, pitcher Ryan Mullins began the game by striking out the final two of three Syracuse batters in the first inning.

The Wings took the lead in an exciting second inning. Syracuse Starter Ty Taubenheim started the inning by walking Garrett Jones. Doug Deeds then knocked a line drive down the first base line for a single, moving Jones to third. After Buscher popped out to second base, Tommy Watkins walked to load the bases. After a second out, Span slammed a ball just over the right field wall for a grand slam, the second for the Wings this season, giving the Wings a 4-0 lead.

In the third, Matt Tolbert led off with a base hit. With one out, Jones was walked again placing Tolbert in scoring position. Deeds then singled a line drive to right field plating Tolbert, moving Jones to third, and advancing to second on the throw. With two runners in scoring position, Buscher smacked a ball into the right field bullpen for a three-run home run to double the Wings lead, 8-0.

Syracuse answered back with a home run of their own in the fourth. With one out, Adam Lind hit a ball to centerfield for a base hit. Chad Mottola followed with a two-run homer over left centerfield, bringing the score to 8-2.

The Chiefs cut into the Wings lead as Mullins struggled in the fifth. Russ Adams started the inning by reaching base off an error. He then advanced to third on a single to centerfield by Robinzon Diaz. Adams was brought home off a double to right field by Wayne Lydon. With no outs and two runners in scoring position, Ryan Roberts knocked a hit on a full count pitch for a three-run homer causing Carmen Cali to enter the game, relieving Mullins. Cali started by walking his first batter but was quickly saved by a double-play to second and first. He then struck out the final batter, holding the Wings lead, 8-6.

The Wings increased their lead in the sixth. The inning started with Watkins being walked by relief pitcher Jordan De Jong. This caused Syracuse to make a pitching change and bring in Scott Sauerbeck to face Trent Oeltjen, who, on a full count pitch, knocked a ball to centerfield for a triple, bringing home Watkins. After Span struck out, Oeltjen was tagged out at home by a fielder's choice by Alexi Casilla. Casilla then stole second but was stranded as Tolbert stuck out to end the inning with the score 9-6 Wings.

Julio DePaula entered the game to relieve Cali in the seventh. DePaula allowed one hit and struck out two. He was relieved by Bobby Korecky in the eighth. Korecky, who recorded his 27th save, struck out three and allowed a base hit in the two innings to end the game with the score of 9-6. Cali took the win, improving his record to 4-0.

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International League Stories from July 24, 2007


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