IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Slowey Great, But Wings Lose 2-1

May 10, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


Toledo's Yorman Bazardo shut down the Red Wings in a 2-1 win Thursday night at Frontier Field. Rochester's Kevin Slowey pitched a complete game ! three-hitter with seven strikeouts. The Wings head down the Thruway for a two-game set in Buffalo before returning to Frontier Sunday afternoon and Monday night.

Slowey had an uncharecteristically rough start: after not allowing a first inning run this season, he yielded a homer to Ramon Santiago on the second pitch of the game. The ball went over the right field fence and into the Wings bullpen, putting the Hens ahead 1-0. Slowey's opponent on the mound was Bazardo, whose 2007 season effort included a 9.00 first inning ERA (10 hits and six runs in six first innings pitched). The Red Wings looked to get even quick, after Denard Span drew a leadoff walk then stole second base. But Bazardo settled down to get the next three outs and escape the first inning.

Slowey (3-2) returned to form in the second and the game became a pitchers duel. Slowey retired 20 straight batters following the home run. Ryan Raburn, leading the league in extra base hits, doubled to right in the seventh with two outs. Jack Hannahan singled Raburn home for a 2-0 lead. .

Bazardo (2-3) , after the Span walk, retired 11 straight including three strikeouts in a row at one point. Bazardo finally surrendered a hit in the bottom of the fifth, with Matt Moses singling and advancing to second on a fielder's choice. Moses was stranded, and the Wings had another great shot the next inning - when Alexi Casilla drew a walk from Bazardo. But Lew Ford hit into a double play and Bazardo retired Garrett Jones on a ground out to retire the side. Toledo turned another double play in the seventh, again negating a leadoff walk and retaining their 2-0 lead.

Trent Oeltjen drilled a 1-1 Bazardo pitch down the first base line for a double to start the Rochester eighth, just the second hit of the game for the Wings. Matt Tolbert moved Oeltjen to third with a ground ball out to the right side, but Bazardo caught Span looking and retired Casilla to end the eighth.

Slowey came out of the dugout to start the ninth, and struck out two batters before getting a fly ball final out. When Bazardo exited after eight, Ford homered off reliever Jason Karnuth in the ninth to get the Wings on the scoreboard. Jones followed with a single, but Karnuth (1st save) fanned Tommy Watkins and Jose Morales and retired Moses to end the game.

Bazardo allowed two hits over eight shutout innings, walking five and striking out six.

NOTES: Center fielder Ford made two nice plays to take away hits from David Espinosa, running down a drive to the gap in left-center in the second inning and going straight back at full speed to snag Espinosa's shot in the eighth. Ford will end his rehab assignment and rejoin Minnesota Friday...Alexi Casilla has family and friends visiting from the Dominicnan Republic - their first visit to the States...Tolbert entered the game leading the International League in batting, on-base percentage and slugging percentage while tied for the lead in triples...1B/DH Ken Harvey (knee) will be sent to the Twins' complex in Ft. Myers for evaluation...2B Felix Molina extended ! his hitting streak to 15 games with a hit in his final at-bat for Double-A New Britain Thursday night....Wednesday night's seven-run sixth inning was the most runs Rochester has scored in a game since July 21, 2005 at Charlotte when the Red Wings scored seven runs in the sixth inning in a 10-7 win. It was also the most runs Rochester has scored in an inning at Frontier Field since August 30, 2004 vs. Pawtucket when the Red Wings scored nine runs in the seventh inning of a 21-5 win.

Check out the Gwinnett Stripers Statistics



International League Stories from May 10, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central