Rochester Red Wings' Righthander Liam Hendriks Named IL Pitcher of the Week

June 11, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release

ROCHESTER, NY - Rochester Red Wings' righthander Liam Hendriks today was named International League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 4-10. First baseman Russell Branyan of the Empire State Yankees, who are sharing Frontier Field with the Red Wings in 2012, today was named IL Player of the Week as well.

Hendriks went 2-0 with 15.2 scoreless innings in two starts. He tossed a seven-inning shutout with eight strikeouts June 4 vs. Columbus (Indians) and worked 8.2 innings with 10 strikeouts Saturday at Indianapolis (Pirates). The Australia native allowed just seven hits while walking three in the two starts. Hendriks's outing on Saturday was the longest start by a Red Wings' pitcher this season, falling one out shy of the club's first nine-inning complete game since Jeff Manship's four-hut shutout vs. Norfolk (Orioles) June 3, 2010. The 10-strikeout game was also Rochester's first since Andrew Baldwin fanned 10 August 17, 2011 at Lehigh Valley (Phillies). Hendriks's 15.2 consecutive scoreless innings streak is the longest by a Wings' pitcher this season.

Hendriks, who was signed by the Twins as a non-drafted free agent in 2007, is 5-0 with a 1.94 ERA in seven starts with the Red Wings. He is the first Red Wings' pitcher to start a season 5-0 since Anthony Swarzak went 5-0 in his first six starts of the 2008 campaign.

The 23-year-old was on Minnesota's Opening Day roster and he went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts before being optioned to Rochester on May 7. Hendriks would lead the IL with his 1.94 ERA if he had enough innings to qualify. He entered the season as the No. 7 prospect in the Twins' organization according to Baseball America .

Branyan went 7-for-18 (.389) with five homers and 12 RBI in five games with the Yankees. He also scored seven runs and walked five times. The 36-year-old, who signed with the Yankees as a minor league free agent in February, started the season on the Disabled List with a back injury and didn't join the Yankees until June 2.

The Empire State Yankees tonight play at Frontier Field against Louisville (Reds) at 7:05 p.m. They then return to the downtown ballpark June 26-29 for a four-game series with Gwinnett (Braves). The Red Wings, meanwhile, return home next Monday, June 18, for an eight-game homestand that features Durham (Rays) and Charlotte (White Sox).

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