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One Thousand Wins, Countless Memories

August 30, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Ottawa Lynx News Release


OTTAWA - The Lynx have hit a milestone 15 years in the making. The Lynx win in the first game of their doubleheader against Rochester tonight was the 1,000th in franchise history.

The names of winning pitcher Gary Knotts, who threw a complete-game shutout, and losing Rochester hurler Nick Blackburn will be etched into Ottawa baseball history. On the occasion of the team's 1,000th win, let's look back at past milestones and the players who made them special.

Win #1: April 8, 1993 in Charlotte, NC

Ottawa 8 Charlotte 6

WP: Tavo Alvarez LP: Tom McCarthy S: Len Picota

The Lynx won their first ever game, topping their expansion cousins, the Charlotte Knights. 1993 Lynx MVP Todd Haney hit the first home run in Lynx history. Both teams would go on to make the playoffs in their very first season. The Lynx won the wild card with a 73-69 record before falling to Rochester in the first round of the IL Playoffs.

Win #100: June 10, 1994 in Columbus, OH

Ottawa 10 Columbus 2

WP: Denis Boucher LP: Andy Pettite

Canadian boy Denis Boucher got the win after his teammates supported him with 10 runs. Future Yankees star Andy Pettite took the loss for Columbus. Tim Laker had three doubles and scored four runs for the Lynx. That was the first time a Lynx player had ever hit three doubles in a game, a feat that has been tied eight times, but never surpassed. The Lynx finished the season 70-72 and Tim Laker was the Lynx first IL All-Star.

Win #200: July 28, 1995 in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa 5 Richmond 3 (Game 1)

WP: Bryan Eversgerd LP: Royal Thomas S: Curt Schmidt

The Lynx took the first game of a double-dip against the Braves for the 200th win in franchise history. A month and a half later, the Lynx would win their first Governors' Cup Championship at home against Norfolk, after winning their second Wild Card in three seasons with a 72-70 record. Julian Yan provided the power, leading the Lynx in home runs and runs batted in, while Yamil Benitez led the club in doubles, triples and runs scored.

Win #300: June 29, 1997 in Charlotte, NC

Ottawa 5 Charlotte 2

WP: Melvin Bunch LP:Bryan Ward S: Shayne Bennett

Win number 300 happened in the same place as win number one, as the Lynx defeated Charlotte on their own field. The 1997 season was a tough one, seeing the Lynx win only 54 games, but Hensley Muelens made Lynx history, smashing a club-record 24 home runs, including a two-run home run to help clinch this milestone win.

Win #400: April 16, 1999 in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa 1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 0

WP: Dan Smith LP: Rod Bolton S: Guillermo Mota

Another milestone was reached in front of the Lynx faithful in a 1-0 nail-biter. The temperature hovered around the freezing mark all day, but Lynx pitchers were on fire, shutting out the eventual division-winning Red Barons. The team suffered their fourth straight losing season after their Governors' Cup title in 1995.

Win #500: August 4, 2000 in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa 5 Pawtucket 4

WP: Scott Mitchell LP: Dario Perez S: Pat Flury

The Lynx finished a long homestand with an historic win, topping Pawtucket. The Lynx struggled the entire season, winning a franchise-low 53 games. It was the dawn of a new era in Lynx baseball, as Howard Darwin sold the club to Ray Pecor in June of 2000. The club would have a new logo, mascot and uniform the following season, sporting traditional Ottawa sports colours: red, black and white.

Win #600: May 5, 2002 in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa 6 Louisville 2

WP: Dan Smith LP: Luke Hudson

More than three years after earning the 400th win in Lynx history, Dan Smith ended up on the right end of win 600. That season, the Lynx set the bar for wins in a season (82) and had two IL All-Stars: Joe Vitiello (1B) and Endy Chavez (OF). Chavez also had the highest batting average in Lynx history (.343) and the longest hit streak in Lynx history (25 games). The Lynx fell just short of a playoff spot in the final season of their affiliation with the Expos.

Win # 700: June 29, 2003 in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa 4 Rochester 1

WP: Matt Riley LP: James Baldwin S: Darwin Cubillan

Matt Riley's first win in a Lynx uniform was the 700th in Lynx history. The Lynx first season in the Orioles organization saw their return to the IL Playoffs for the first time since their 1995 Governors' Cup triumph. The Lynx would bow out in the first round of the playoffs after pushing Pawtucket to a decisive fifth game. Jack Cust tied the club record with 80 walks and Tim Harikkala posted a miniscule 0.81 ERA.

Win #800: September 1, 2004 in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa 1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 0

WP: Andrew Lorraine LP: Paul Abbott S: Darwin Cubillan

Win 800 is almost a carbon copy of win 400: a 1-0 win at home over the Red Barons. Darwin Cubillan saved his second straight milestone game. Cubillan appeared in more games (162) than any other pitcher in Lynx history. This game saw the 52nd and final save he would register in a Lynx uniform, a franchise record.

Win # 900: June 4, 2006 in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa 6 Toledo 1 (Game 2)

WP: Tim Kester LP: Jordan Tata S: Eddy Rodriguez

The Lynx capped a doubleheader split with the eventual repeat IL Champions with the 900th win in Lynx history. The Lynx had their third-winningest season (73 wins) but came up short in the playoff race in the club's last season affiliated with the Orioles. Andy Tracy led the club in home runs (20) and runs batted in (72) in his third season with the Lynx. He had previously played in Ottawa as an Expos prospect in 2000 and 2001.

This is the first season the Lynx are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Lynx Box Office is Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm. Ticket information can be found at www.ottawalynx.com or by calling 613 747-LYNX (5969).



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