IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - Sunday, August 19 vs. Empire State (Yankees)

August 19, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012 w FRONTIER FIELD

GAME #129 - HOME GAME #66 - 6:05 P.M.

EMPIRE STATE YANKEES (73-56) at ROCHESTER RED WINGS (65-63)

RHP JOHN MAINE (5-5, 6.53) vs. RHP P.J. WALTERS (3-1, 2.85)

SEE YOU IN A FEW DAYS: The Rochester Red Wings tonight conclude their 6-game homestand and 2-game series with Empire State (Yankees). The Red Wings are 3-2 thus far on the homestand, winning 3 of 4 vs. Indianapolis (Pirates) and losing last night's series opener against the Yankees 10-3. The Red Wings tomorrow hit the road for a brief 2-game set at Pawtucket (Red Sox) and then return home for a 3-game series against Lehigh Valley (Phillies) Wednesday-Friday.

a Tomorrow's game at Pawtucket at 7:05 p.m. can be seen live on Time Warner Cable Sports (TWCS) Channel 26, a simulcast of the New England Sports Network (NESN) broadcast.

ROSTER NEWS: Twins righthander P.J. Walters tonight makes his 6th rehab start with the Red Wings since the Twins placed him on the 15-Day Disabled List June 14 with right shoulder inflammation, his 4th in his most recent rehab stint. Walters has allowed 2 runs on 6 hits in 5.0 innings in his previous 3 rehab starts. He is 3-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 11 starts with the Red Wings overall after opening the season with Rochester.

THE STAGE HAS BEEN SET: The Red Wings are only 3.5 games out of the International League Wild Card spot with 16 games to go. Despite losing 2 games in a row, the Red Wings didn't lose ground in the Wild Card standings as Wild Card co-leader Pawtucket has also lost back-to-back games. Pawtucket (69-60) and Lehigh Valley (69-60) are tied for the Wild Card lead, and the Red Wings play 2 at Pawtucket and then 3 vs. Lehigh Valley beginning tomorrow.

a The Red Wings yesterday began a stretch of playing their final 17 games against teams within the IL North Division. Rochester is just 25-39 against its division rivals. The Wings are 40-24 outside the IL North.

TURN THIS CAR AROUND: The Red Wings have lost 2 in a row since being a season-high 4 games above .500 at 65-61. It was the first time they had reached that mark since May 14, 2009, when they were 18-14 following a 5-4 win vs. Indianapolis.

WHAT GIVES?: The Red Wings are just 6-7 since a season-best 7-game winning streak, but they still have the 2nd-best record in the IL beginning July 1 at 28-18. Here's a look at the Top-5 records since the start of July, led by Charlotte (White Sox), which has won 8 games in a row:

Rank Team Record Win %

1. Charlotte 28-17 .622

2. Rochester 28-18 .609

3. Empire State 26-19 .578

4. Columbus 25-20 .555

5. Indianapolis 25-21 .543

a The Red Wings are 45-33 since sitting a season-worst 10 games below .500 at 20-30 on May 28. Going back further, Rochester is 51-40 beginning May 15.

WINNING WAYS: At 65-63, the Red Wings are off to their best 128-game start since 2007, when they were 69-59. The Red Wings in 2012 are looking for their first winning season since the 2008 club went 74-70. Rochester needs to win 8 of its final 16 games to finish above .500. The Wings have 9 games remaining on the road at Pawtucket, Buffalo and Syracuse, where they are a combined 4-11. There are just 6 games remaining at Frontier Field following tonight's contest.

THIS IS NO FUN: By losing 10 of their first 15 games against the Empire State Yankees, including 4 of their last 5, the Red Wings will remain winless in 5 consecutive season series against them. They last won a season set against Empire State in 2007, when they went 11-5 against the IL North rival.

a The Yankees tonight are playing the last of their 46 regular-season games at Frontier Field, which they called home for 38 of those contests. Empire State is 25-20 thus far in their games along Morrie Silver Way.

a The Yankees will play all potential post-season home games at Frontier Field.

HOME ON THE ROAD: The Red Wings tomorrow begin a stretch of playing 9 of their final 15 games on the road. Rochester is just 24-31 in true road games, but they have won 8 of their last 9, 12 of their last 17, and 13 of their last 19 away from Frontier Field.

a The Wings are 2-4 at Pawtucket, 0-3 at Buffalo, and 2-4 at Syracuse, the 3 remaining road cities left on the 2012 docket.

START ME UP: Red Wings starters have lost 2 games in a row with Liam Hendriks falling Friday vs. Indianapolis and Shiaron Martis succumbing yesterday vs. Empire State. Red Wings starters have yet to lose 3 straight games in 2012 and they would need a victory or a no-decision tonight from P.J. Walters to extend that streak.

a This streak is intact thus far despite the Red Wings using 17 different starting pitchers.

BIG DAY FOR THE COACHING STAFF: Red Wings hitting coach Tom Brunansky and pitching coach Bobby Cuellar tomorrow will celebrate their 52nd and 60th birthdays, respectively. They share their special day with Andy Benes, Todd Helton, Greg Nettles, Don King, and Connie Chung.

a Brunansky batted only .129 (4-for-31) on his birthday during his major league career. He hit one homer in 1989 as a Cardinal off Reds lefthander Tim Birtsas at Riverfront Stadium.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

0 Opponent Time Probable A0 TV/Radio

Monday, August 20 at Pawtucket 7:05 p.m. RHP Esmerling Vasquez (8-5, 2.85) vs. RHP Nelson Figueroa (10-4, 3.87) TWCS 26/WHTK 1280 AM

Tuesday, August 21 at Pawtucket 7:05 p.m. LHP Pedro Hernandez (1-1, 4.50) vs. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-3, 3.68) WHTK 1280 AM

Wed., August 22 vs. Lehigh Valley 7:05 p.m. RHP Scott Elarton (5-11, 5.48) vs. RHP Liam Hendriks (9-3, A0 WHTK 1280 AM

Thursday, August 23 vs. Lehigh Valley 7:05 p.m. RHP Tyler Cloyd (12-1, 2.27) vs. Shairon Martis (2-3, A0 TWCS 26/WHTK 1280 AM

Friday, August 24 vs. Lehigh Valley 7:05 p.m. RHP Tyson Brummett vs. TWCS 26/WHTK 1280 AM

Check out the Rochester Red Wings Statistics



International League Stories from August 19, 2012


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