IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - Sunday, September 2 at Syracuse (Nationals)

Published on September 2, 2012 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 at ALLIANCE BANK STADIUM

GAME #143 - ROAD GAME #72 - 2:00 P.M.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS (71-71) at SYRACUSE CHIEFS (69-73)

RHP NICK BLACKBURN (3-1, 2.12) vs. RHP MITCH ATKINS (6-9, 4.61)

IN THE HOME STRETCH: The Rochester Red Wings today wrap up their brief 2-game series and final roadtrip of the season at Syracuse (Nationals) before returning home for their final regular-season game tomorrow against Syracuse. Rochester was eliminated from all post-season contention Thursday with Pawtucket's (Red Sox) 1-0 win in the first game of its doubleheader at Gwinnett (Braves).

a Rochester's final 2 games can be seen on Time Warner Cable Sports (TWCS) on digital cable 26/215, digital cable HD 1026, and digital cable on demand channel 214.

a The Wings are 15 games into a stretch of playing their final 17 contests against IL North opponents and they are 6-9. Rochester is 31-47 against its division rivals overall. The Wings went 40-24 outside the IL North.

ROSTER NEWS: The Minnesota Twins yesterday selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Esmerling Vasquez from Triple-A Rochester. Vasquez appeared in 31 games for the Red Wings this season, including making 8 starts. He went 9-6, 2.78 ERA (100.1 IP, 31 ER) with 98 strikeouts and 39 walks. Vasquez, who was claimed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks last September, is scheduled to start tomorrow for the Twins.

a The Twins also announced today that they returned right-handed pitcher P.J. Walters from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Rochester and reinstated him from the disabled list. Walters, who missed 70 games was placed on the DL with right shoulder inflammation on June 14 (transferred to the 60-day disabled list on July 28). He made a combined 14 starts with the Red Wings this season, including eight starts while on a rehab assignment.

TWINNING WAYS: With 71 wins; the Red Wings have already won 18 more games than last year (53-91) and 22 more than in 2010 (49-95). Rochester's win last night allowed them to surpass their 2009 win total of 70.

a Rochester is looking for its first winning season since the 2008 club went 74-70. At 71-71, Rochester needs to go 2-0 the rest of the way to finish above .500.

a A victory today would get the Red Wings back over .500 for the first time since Tuesday when the team was 70-69 following a 10-4 victory over Buffalo.

LET'S GET BACK TO TWINNING: The Red Wings are 1-2 since their 3-game winning streak August 26-28. They are 6-10 since sitting a season-best 4 games above .500 at 65-61 on August 16. That was the first time the Wings had been 4 games over .500 since May 14, 2009, when they were 18-14.

a The Wings have lost 7 of their last 8 games at Frontier Field and are 6-4 in their last 10 road games.

CELLAR DWELLERS NO MORE: With a 4-game lead over Buffalo and just 2 games remaining, the Red Wings will not finish last in the IL North Division standings for the first time in 3 years. Rochester can finish no worse than 5th place in the 6-team IL North Division.

a Rochester is 12-15 since their season-best 7-game winning streak July 29-August 5. Despite the recent downturn, the Red Wings are still 51-41 since sitting a season-worst 10 games below .500 at 20-30 on May 28. Going back further, Rochester is 57-47 beginning May 15.

RUN AWAY: With Lehigh Valley (Phillies) losing 6-3 against Buffalo (Mets) last night, and Louisville (Reds) losing 5-1 against Columbus (Indians) the Red Wings are no longer the lowest-scoring team in the league. The Red Wings have scored 555 runs to Lehigh's 545 and Louisville's 546. Rochester now has its sights set on Norfolk (Orioles), which has 580.

SMOOTH AS WILK: Outfielder Wilkin Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI yesterday at Syracuse, bringing his hot August into September. He batted .337 (35-for-104) with 6 doubles, 4 home runs, and 21 RBI in 27 games in August. Currently, he ranks 5th in the IL in hitting Since August 1. He is also 2nd in RBI in that time. Ramirez's August average includes a .373 mark (26-for-67) and 18 RBI in his last 18 games.

SLAMA THE DOOR SHUT: Righthander Anthony Slama enters tonight with 99 saves in his professional career, including 35 at the Triple-A level with the Red Wings.

a Yesterday at Syracuse Slama picked up his first win since June 21, 2011 vs. Charlotte (White Sox)

CUP RUNNETH OVER: Buffalo clinched the 2012 Thruway Series Cup presented by Hillside Family of Agencies with the best record in western New York among Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse Friday with the Red Wings loss. This is Buffalo's first Thruway Series victory since 2007. Here are the current standings with 3 games to go for the Red Wings:

Rank Team Record Winning %

1. Buffalo 19-13 .594

2. Syracuse 16-14 .533

3. Rochester 11-19 .367

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND: Tickets for Game 3 of the Empire State Yankees first-round playoff series on Friday, September 7 at Frontier Field are now on sale. The Empire State Yankees yesterday clinched the International League North Division Championship with a 5-0 win against Lehigh Valley. The Yankees will play the first two games of the series on the road.

a Prior to Game 3, Rochester native and Yankees farmhand Cito Culver will sign autographs from 6:00 - 6:50 p.m. in the Red Wings Hall of Fame. He is a 2010 graduate of Irondequoit High School and a first-round draft pick of the Yankees. The 20-year-old has spent the 2012 season with Charleston of the Single-A South Atlantic League. There will also be a fireworks show following Game 3.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

0 Opponent Time Probable A0 TV/Radio

Monday, September 3 vs. Syracuse 1:05 p.m. RHP Yunesky Maya (11-9, 3.72) vs. RHP Shairon Martis (3-3, 5.70) TWCS 26/WHTK 1280 AM

Check out the Rochester Red Wings Statistics

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International League Stories from September 2, 2012


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