IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Wings Float, Sting Past Bats

June 4, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


LOUISVILLE, KY - The Rochester Red Wings used a Kennys Vargas grand slam and 7.0 shutout innings from Andrew Albers to knock out the Louisville Bats 5-0 Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

The nine-round bout started with both teams landing jabs early but neither team was able to capitalize on their opportunities to strike. In the first, the Red Wings (31-24) pushed two men into scoring position with two outs and the Bats (28-26) loaded the bases in the bottom half but both starters were able to counter-attack out of trouble. Albers (4-1) was really on the ropes after hitting Louisville's Kyle Waldrop to load the bases but he escaped damage by striking out Seth Mejias-Brean to end the threat.

After a quick second round in which both teams were set down in order, Rochester struck against Bats starter Cody Reed (4-3) as John Ryan Murphy singled to open the inning, James Beresford walked with one out, Jorge Polanco blooped a single to center and Kennys Vargas delivered the knockout blow with a grand slam to center. It was Vargas' sixth career grand slam and first by a Wing this season. Adam Brett Walker added a sacrifice fly later in the frame to give Rochester a 5-0 lead.

That's all Albers would need, allowing just five total base runners after the first. He scattered five hits, a walk and two hit batters while striking out five. Marcus Walden and Sean Burnett tossed a scoreless inning apiece to record the Red Wings seventh shutout of the season.

Polanco finished with three hits, Vargas reached base safely four times - two hits and two walks - and reached on an error in his fifth plate appearance and Eddie Rosario also added two hits including a double. Despite the win, Rochester left 13 men on base and finished 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and going hitless in the final 10 such at-bats of the game Friday.

"Impossible is just a word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."

"Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee. You can't hit what your eyes don't see."

"Don't count the days. Make the days count."

- Muhammed Ali

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