IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - Friday, April 20 Vs. Lehigh Valley

Published on April 20, 2012 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 w FRONTIER FIELD

GAME #16 - HOME GAME #8 - 7:05 P.M.

LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS (11-4) at ROCHESTER RED WINGS (7-8)

RHP DAVE BUSH (1-1, 0.90) vs. RHP P.J. WALTERS (1-1, 3.38)

IF MY HEART HAD WINGS: The Rochester Red Wings tonight open a 6-game, 7-day homestand with the first of 3 vs. Lehigh Valley (Phillies). The Wings have actually been home since Monday, when they started a 4-game "road" series against the Empire State Yankees at Frontier Field. Following this weekend's set against the IronPigs and an offday Monday, Rochester welcomes Bryce Harper and the Syracuse Chiefs (Nationals) to town for a 3-game set Tuesday-Thursday.

a Due to Game 2 of the Rochester Americans' first-round, best-of-5 playoff series against the Toronto Marlies, tomorrow's game can be heard on WYSL 1040 AM or FM 92.1. The 6-time Calder Cup champs yesterday lost Game One, 4-3, across the border.

a The Red Wings are 15 games into a stretch of playing 18 days in a row to open the season. After the first offday on Monday, Rochester will play a season-high 29 days in a row through May 22.

a The Red Wings are scheduled to play 25 games in April, their most in the season-opening month since 2008, when they played 27 contests and went 13-14. The season that year started on April 3, 2 days before the April 5 opener this season.

SERIES RECAP: The Red Wings split their 4-game series with the Empire State Yankees this week, winning the first 2 before losing the last 2. The Wings and Yankees both scored 12 runs in the series, and Rochester was shut out 2-0 on Wednesday. The Yankees outhit the Wings by a small 32-29 margin.

a Wednesday's 2-0 shutout was the Red Wings' first at Frontier Field since May 31, 2011, a 5-0 setback vs. Toledo. Rochester was shut out at home 4 times in 2011, all within the first 2 months of the season.

a At one hour and 54 minutes, the Red Wings on Wednesday played their shortest 9-inning game since a 2-0 loss at Syracuse in one hour, 52 minutes on August 17, 2008. Wednesday's game was the shortest at Frontier Field since a one-hour, 52-minute contest July 5, 2001, when the Wings won 2-0 vs. Buffalo.

GETTING ABOVE WATER: At 7-8, the Red Wings are below .500 for just the 2nd time. They were also below the break-even mark at 5-6 after Sunday's 3-1 loss at Lehigh Valley. Despite being a game under .500, Rochester is off to its best start since the 2007 club was 11-4 through 15 games.

a Rochester tonight looks to avoid losing their 3rd game in a row, a streak that would be one shy of its season-worst 4-game skid April 12-15.

a The Red Wings have played their first 15 games without a postponement due to weather, the longest such streak since 2002. The club's 18th game that year, an April 22 clash at Buffalo (Indians), was rained out and played as part of a doubleheader the next day.

a Rochester has gone 15 games into the season without playing extra innings, the longest such streak since 2003, when the Red Wings played 11 innings in their 31st game May 7 at Durham (Rays). The Wings won 4-3 that day.

THAT'S TIGHT: Fourteen of the Red Wings' first 15 games have been decided by 3 runs or less. Even with a 10-1 loss April 12 vs. Pawtucket, a save has been recorded in each of Rochester's 15 contests. Three different Rochester relievers have recorded at least one save, including Casey Fien (2), Tyler Robertson, and Anthony Slama, who is tied for the league lead with 4. Red Wings closers are a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities.

TOP AND BOTTOM: This weekend's series features 2 teams that are in the top 4 in pitching and bottom 3 in hitting. Lehigh Valley ranks 3rd in the International League with a 2.55 ERA and Rochester ranks 4th with a 3.30 ERA. On the hitting front, the Red Wings rank 12th with a .231 batting average while the IronPigs rank 13th with a .228 average.

TURNAROUND TIME: The Red Wings have scored an International League-low 44 runs in 15 games, averaging 2.9 runs per contest. The Wings tonight look to climb out of the cellar, trailing Norfolk (Orioles) by 5 runs. Norfolk tonight travels to Batavia to take on the Empire State Yankees.

a The Red Wings last year scored 48 runs through their first 15 contests, but were one game worse at 6-9.

a Rochester has hit just 7 home runs all year. Only Empire State (6), Lehigh Valley (6), and Durham (4) have clubbed fewer. Rene Rivera and Michael Hollimon lead the Wings with 2. Hollimon has accounted for the Red Wings' last 2 homers: yesterday at Empire State and April 13 vs. Pawtucket (Red Sox).

a On a more positive note, the Red Wings have grounded into a league-low 7 double plays. The next closest is Indianapolis (Pirates) with 8 and Syracuse and Toledo with 9.

MAKING THEIR PITCH: Three times through the rotation, Red Wings starting pitchers have a 2.93 ERA (26 ER/80.0 IP), which ranks 4th in the IL among starting staffs. The Top 5 starting staffs:

Rank Team ERA_____________

1. Lehigh Valley 2.38 (21 ER/79.1 IP)

2. Pawtucket 2.49 (23 ER/83.0 IP)

3. Gwinnett 2.86 (22 ER/69.1 IP)

4. Rochester 2.93 (26 ER/80.0 IP)

5. Toledo 3.89 (24 ER/56.2 IP)

a Rochester starters posted a 5.52 ERA (450 ER/733.2 IP) in 2011.

a The Red Wings haven't used more than 2 relievers in 6 straight games. In fact, only one reliever was used in 5 of those 6 contests.

Check out the Rochester Red Wings Statistics

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International League Stories from April 20, 2012


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