IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Wings Can't Complete Comeback

Published on April 28, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


Despite a grand slam by Darnell McDonald in the seventh inning to bring the Rochester Red Wings within two runs of the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Wings couldn't complete the comeback as they lost, 8-6, Monday night at Frontier Field.

In the bottom of the first, after McDonald hit a two-out double, Randy Ruiz followed with a bloop single that dropped into shallow left field. There was a close play at the plate, but McDonald slid in just under that tag, giving the Red Wings an 1-0 advantage.

Pawtucket promptly answered in the third inning.

Sandy Madera, who made his debut for Pawtucket on Sunday, hit his first Triple-A home run in third inning, a three-run shot, that sailed into the left field concourse. It was also the first home run that starter Kevin Mulvey has allowed at the Triple-A level. The blast made the score, 3-1, Pawtucket.

The fourth inning for Pawtucket was more of the same, as they tacked on three more runs.

With one out and runners on first and second running on the pitch, Jeff Bailey smoked a Mulvey offering into left field that almost hit runner Jon Van Every, who had to jump to avoid ball. He scored, making the score, 4-1.

Two batters later, Mulvey threw a wild pitch that glanced off of catcher Jose Morales' glove and went into the stands, scoring Gil Velazquez.

Materas made his presence felt again in the inning as he hit a deep sacrifice RBI to right to score Bailey, to put the score at 6-1. Mulvey ended the inning when he forced Chris Carter to fly out to second.

Pawtucket added another run in the fourth inning when Van Every hit a double into right-center field gap. After making Velazquez ground out for the second out, Mulvey was replaced by Casey Daigle. Mulvey (2-2) finished pitching 4 2/3 innings while allowing seven runs on nine hits and striking out four. Pawtucket starting pitcher David Pauley (2-1) went a full five innings and gave up only six hits and one run.

The Wings scored their second run in the sixth. After McDonald reached on an error and went to third after a Ruiz double, Howie Clark hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score McDonald.

The Red Sox tacked on yet another run in the seventh when Velazquez doubled deep to left-center field, scoring Dusty Brown, which made the score 8-2.

With things looking bleak, McDonald instantly put the Red Wings back in the game in the seventh inning.

With the bases loaded and one-out, McDonald took the first offering from reliever Edgar Martinez and put it into the left field bullpen, which put the Wings within distance of the Red Sox, 8-6.

The closest the Red Wings got to scoring again was in the ninth when they had two runners on and one out. Pawtucket closer Lee Gronkiewicz kept them both from touching home to earn his fifth save of the season.

Infielder Tommy Watkins was placed on the disabled list today (retro the 4/25) with a strained left groin. Watkins is batting .143 in 13 games for the Red Wings. Taking his spot on the roster is LHP Francisco Liriano, who was optioned to Rochester from Minnesota on Friday. Liriano was 0-3 with an 11.32 ERA in three starts for the Twins....Not including Monday's game, the Red Wings bullpen has been tremendous the last 17 games, going 6-2 with six saves and a 1.88 ERA. In 62.1 innings of work, the relievers have allowed just 13 earned runs on 42 hits while striking out 50. The bullpen was steady but not spectacular the first seven games of the season, going 1-1 with one save and a 4.07 ERA. The bullpen allowed 14 runs (11 earned) in their first 24.1 innings....The Red Wings entered Monday 's game ! leading the International League with a team ERA of 2.72. If Rochester can finish the 2008 season leading the IL in team ERA it would be the first time since 1976 when Rochester led the IL with a 3.15 ERA. Since 1964, when team ERA records start in the IL office, Rochester has led the IL in team ERA just twice (1974, 3.04 ERA & 1976)....Since 1964, when team ERA records start in the IL office, only the 1975 season has had a team with a team ERA under 3.00. Actually there were three teams (Tidewater led the league with a 2.80 ERA followed by Memphis 2.95 and Rochester 2.96)....Team USA softball star Jennie Finch watched the game from the Frontier Field Diamond Suites, and got to see her husband Casey Daigle pitch for the Wings...Matt Macri left the game with a strained left calf during his first inning at-bat.

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International League Stories from April 28, 2008


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