IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Span Goes Deep Again, Wings Win

Published on May 14, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


Denard Span had three hits and scored four runs, hitting a home run for the third straight game as the Rochester Red Wings topped the Columbus Clippers 10-7 Wednesday afternoon at Frontier Field.

In the first, Span started off with a line drive single to right field then stole second base. Span reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Jason Pridie. Howie Clark doubled while Span scored the first run of the game giving the Wings a 1-0 lead.

Garrett Jones led off the bottom of the second with a double. Chris Basak hit a sacrifice bunt sending Jones to third. Basak was able to reach first on a throwing error by Clippers starting pitcher Tyler Clippard (2-4). Ryan Jorgensen grounded out while Basak reached second and Jones scored for the Red Wings. For his third consecutive game, Span hit a two-out home run bringing the score to 4-0.

With only one out and the bases loaded in the top of the third, Alex Escobar came to bat hitting a line drive to second baseman Clark who was able to get the unassisted double play to end the inning. Clark made a spectacular catch, leaping high in the air to take away what would have been a run-scoring hit.

Clark doubled in the third. Randy Ruiz hit a single to left field allowing Clark to score, extending the Wings' lead to 5-0.

In the fifth, the Clippers were able to tie the game at 5-5 against starter Brian Duensing. David Wallace hit a two-run home run. The Clippers were able to score three more runs in the inning. Pitcher Carmen Cali (3-0) came in to relieve Duensing and struck out Larry Broadway to end the inning. Duensing pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing 9 hits and five runs (two earned).

In the bottom of the inning, Clark led off with a single and Buscher walked. With one out, Jones came to bat and hit a double batting in Clark and Buscher, Rochester regaining the lead 7-5.

In the sixth, David Wallace hit a double then scored off a single from Murphy cutting the lead to 7-6.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Span hit a double and scored on a Pridie single extending the lead to 8-6.

Julio DePaula came in to pitch during the top of the seventh. After hitting a double off DePaula in the eighth, Broadway scored on a wild pitch to pull the Clippers within a run at 8-7. With only one out, Tim Lahey came in during the eighth to replace DePaula and got a strikeout and groundout to end the Columbus threat.

Rochester tacked on two more runs in the eighth, when Tommy Watkins led off with a single. Watkins went to second on Jorgensen's sacrifice bunt, and scored on an exciting play at the plate. Pridie singled, and Watkins rounded third and slid into home, tagging the plate with one hand to avoid the out. Span was intentionally walked, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Clark.

Lahey, who struck out five in two innings Monday against Buffalo, picked up three more strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings and recorded his fifth save.

Span became the first Red Wings player to hit a home run in three consecutive games since Justin Morneau June 14-16, 2004 (Morneau also hit a home run in three straight 4/30-5/2, 2004 as did Chris Heintz 4/29-5/1, 2004). If Span could hit a home run in four consecutive games he would become the first Red Wings player to do so since Sam Horn June 23-25, 1990. Horn hit six home runs during that four-game stretch....The Red Wings and Syracuse Chiefs play in the Cooperstown Classic this Sunday May 18; a limited number of tickets remain for the game and the special VIP reception after the game, featuring Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk.

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International League Stories from May 14, 2008


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