Rochester Hurler Has Not Allowed An Earned Run Over His Last 17 Frames

June 8, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release

INDIANAPOLIS -- Right-hander Nick Blackburn tossed the fifth complete-game shutout of his career, while right fielder Trent Oeltjen roped a two-run single in the fourth inning as Rochester rolled to a 3-0 blanking of Indianapolis in front of 11,458 Friday night at Victory Field.

The Red Wings, who salvage the final match-up of the four-game series, improve to 30-27 and 13-14 on the road. The Indians fall to 37-23 overall and 21-13 at home. Saturday will be the Tribe's 54th consecutive day atop the International League's West Division.

Blackburn (9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO), who has not allowed an earned run over his last 17 frames, improved to 2-1 with the win. He yielded just one unearned run over eight innings against Scranton/W-B on June 3 to earn his first win of the season.

SS Alexi Cassila opened the contest with a walk, moved to third on a wild pickoff attempt and scored on CF Denard Span's groundout.

The Red Wings added two runs in the fourth when 1B Glenn Williams and 2B Matt Tolbert came plateward on Oeltjen's (1-for-3, 2 RBI) line drive to right.

Indians RHP John Van Benschoten (4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) suffered just the second loss in his last eight starts, falling to 6-4.

Tribe RHP Brian Rogers (3.0 IP, 1 H), LHP Michael Tejera (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and RHP Dan Kolb (1.0 IP) combined for five scoreless innings after Van Benschoten departed. The Indians bullpen has not allowed a run over its past 22.1 frames -- a span of six games.

Indianapolis will play 16 of its next 20 games on the road, beginning with a four-game set at Charlotte. Indians RHP Marty McLeary and Knights RHP Vladimir Nunez are the probable starters for Saturday's series opener at 7:15 p.m.

The contest will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:55 p.m.

International League Stories from June 8, 2007

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• Rochester Hurler Has Not Allowed An Earned Run Over His Last 17 Frames - Indianapolis Indians
• Rain Cuts The Lynx Game Against Durham Short - Ottawa Lynx
• Selby, Colpoys Elected To Buffalo Baseball Hall Of Fame - Buffalo Bisons
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• R-Braves Game Notes - Gwinnett Stripers
• The Wings on TV Tonight - Rochester Red Wings
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• July 8 start time moved up - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
• Bats To Wear Camouflage Jerseys June 12 - Louisville Bats
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