IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Power Surge Boosts Wings

April 22, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


POWER SURGE BOOSTS WINGS Glenn Williams and Garrett Jones hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, powering the Red Wings to a 4-1 win over Syracuse Sunday afternoon at Frontier Field. Dave Gassner pitched five solid innings and was supported by four scoreless innings from the bullpen.

After Wings starter Gassner quietly set down the Chiefs in order in the top of the first, the Red Wings faced off against Jason Scobie to try and obtain an early lead. After Denard Span, wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, splintered his bat for a single he advanced to second on a fielders choice by Tommy Watkins, also wearing 42. Williams and Jones walked to load the bases for slugger Matthew LeCroy. However, LeCroy grounded to the left side of the infield for a double play, ending the Red Wings threat.

Gassner held the Chiefs scoreless through the first three innings and was helped out on a steller play by Watkins who caught a pop-up behind the Chiefs dougout reaching into the stands on the run to end the top of the third. Matt Tolbert led off the bottom of the inning punching a deep fly ball into the corner and off the left fielder's glove for a double. After a sacrifice bunt by Span, Watkins hit a sacrifice fly just deep enough to score Tolbert from third base for the first run of the game.

After surrendering a one-out home run to Sal Fasano, Gassner pitched around a soft line drive that a sliding Jones could not hang on to and a throwing error by Matt Moses to prevent any further damage in the inning. Gassner left the game after five innings having surrendered only one earned run on three hits.

In the bottom of the seventh, LeCroy led off the inning with an infield single and would advance to second on a throwing error. Doug Deeds pinch ran and advanced to third when the Chiefs failed to record an out on Jose Morales's soft grounder to the left side.

The tide of the game turned after Chiefs reliever Brian Wolfe exited the game with two outs in the eighth and was replaced by Blaine Neal. Watkins hit a solid single to left field and was driven in when Williams hit a home run off the roof of The Nest picnic pavilion in right field. Jones followed up the home run with a monster shot to right-center over the Patio Enclosures Power Alley Grill. The Wings went to the top of the ninth leading four to one.

Bobby Korecky, pitching in his third straight game, notched the save pitching a one, two, three ninth inning. The Red Wings bullpen pitched four shutout inninngs; Tristan Crawford, Julio DePaula and Mike Venafro each recorded a scoreless inning.

NOTES: Red Wing players wore Virginia Tech caps for the game, which were auctioned off for a donation to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. A total of $1413 was raised with the auction...A couple of Wings players suggested offering a cap to the Chiefs' Kevin Barker, who attended Virginia Tech. Barker also wore a Hokies cap for the game....Span and Watkins wore uniform number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson, after last weekend's scheduled ceremonies were postponed here...LHP Jon Lester, who went 7-2 in 15 games as a rookie for Boston last season, is scheduled to start for Pawtucket on April 25 at Frontier Field. Lester was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma near the end of last season, and underwent six chemotherapy treatments. He was the first Red Sox rookie pitcher to win seven or more games since 1993 (Ken Ryan and Aaron! Sele)...Double-A catcher Korey Feiner has hit in six straight games entering Sunday's game... Jones's home run gave him a team leading 11 RBI.

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