IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Hens' Homers Hammer Wings

May 9, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


Toledo staged a five-run ninth inning rally, in taking an 11-9 decision over the Red Wings Wednesday night at Frontier Field. The Mud Hens rally offset a seven-run rally by the Wings earlier in the game. Mike Hessman and Ryan Raburn each drove in four runs for Toledo. Matt Tolbert upped his league-leading average to .384 with a three-hit, one RBI night for the Wings, who also had a three-hit game from Matthew LeCroy. Alexi Casilla had two hits and three RBI for Rochester.

The Mud Hens started their ninth inning rally against Mike Venafro, who allowed a walk and hit batter before getting the first out of the inning. Julio DePaula came into the game, having not allowed an earned run since April 14; DePaula was rocked by Raburn's homer to left field, then Hessman's two-run shot to left which locked up the win for the Hens.

Lefty starter Dave Gassner allowed five runs and six hits in two 2/3 innings. Jack Hannahan hit a single to start off the top of the second inning, but he was caught stealing two batters later by catcher Jose Morales. Dane Sardinha walked, then scored on Brent Clevlen's single to right field.

Toledo's hitting onslaught continued in the third inning. Ramon Santiago was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second on a wild pitch, leading to a run-scoring double by Chris Shelton to make the score 2-0. With two outs the Hens increased their lead after Hessman hit a two-run double. Sardinha followed with an RBI single to make it 5-0. Toledo tacked on another run in the fourth inning when Raburn hit a sacrifice fly to give the Hens a six-run lead. Jason Miller relieved Gassner with two outs in the third and struck out Clevlen to end the inning.

The Red Wings started their comeback against Toledo starter Dennis Tankersley in the fifth inning, when Tolbert and Denard Span hit consecutive singles with two outs. Casilla followed with a two-run double to put the Wings on the board, making it 6-2.

In the sixth inning the Wings provided plenty of offense. Matt Moses helped trim the deficit by hitting an RBI single to score LeCroy. Tommy Watkins then followed with a run-scoring single to left field to make it 6-4. Tolbert followed with another RBI single, and two batters later Casilla walked with the bases loaded to tie the game. Lew Ford's two-run bloop single to center gave the Wings their first lead at 8-6, and Jose Morales beat out an infield hit after sliding head-first into first base to make it 9-6. Carmen Cali came in for Miller at the start of the sixth inning and retired all three batters faced, going one 1/3 innings and allowing no hits.

In the top of the seventh Wings pitcher Ricky Barrett came in and forced hot-hitting Hessman to ground into a double play to end the inning after the Hens were threatening to score with Raburn on first.

NOTES: Tolbert and Morales came into the game first and second respectively in the International League batting race; Morales saw his average drop to .354 after a 1-for-4 day.......Infielder Watkins made his first start in the outfield, after playing a a few games in left for the Twins during spring training.... Pitching coach Stu Cliburn served as warmup catcher a couple of innings, with backup catcher LeCroy playing first base in the game...Rookie reliever DePaula had been solid his last nine appearances, going 2-1 with one save and a 0.00 ERA. In 11.2 innings of work, DePaula has allowed just three runs (0 earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out seven..Infielder Ken Harvey was originally in the Wednesday lineup but was scratched before the game (sore knee). Harvey will be evaluated by doctors this week and is out indefinitely. Harvey's p! inch-hit appearance Tuesday was his first regular season game since June 9, 2005. Harvey was placed on the disabled list in June, 2005 while with the Kansas City organization and didn't play in 2006 due to surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles' Tendon. ...RHP Kevin Slowey will be honored at Thursday's Morgan Stanley Red Wings Player of the Month lunch at the Genesee Valley Club. Slowey is listed at number 10 on Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet this week; Slowey brings a 3-1 record and 1.38 ERA into Thursday night's scheduled start at Frontier, with 31 strikeouts and only two walks in 32 2/3 innings pitched. Class A Beloit RHP Jeff Manship landed at number 20 on the list ...

Double-A New Britain 2B Felix Molina (left) currently has a 14-game hitting streak. Molina had the day off in a 14-2 Rock Cats win over Harrisburg Wednesday afternoon; SS Gil Velazquez had two hits and 4 RBI, and lefty starter Brian Duensing fanned five in six innings to boost his record to 3-0.

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