IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Wings hold off Bisons, win fifth straight

Published on August 10, 2006 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


After taking a big lead early, the Red Wings nearly let the Buffalo Bisons back in the game Thursday night at Frontier Field. The Wings jumped out to a 6-0 advantage, powered by home runs from Garrett Jones and Gil Velazquez, and held on to win 6-5 behind a solid debut from Levale Speigner. The win, combined with Scranton's extra inning loss to Pawtucket, puts the Wings a game ahead of the Red Barons in the IL North Division.

After striking out two in the first inning, Wings starter Pete Munro stayed strong in the second, striking out the first two Bisons he faced to give him three straight strikeouts. After issuing a walk and a base hit, Munro struck out his third Bison of the inning.

Reminiscent of the first inning, where they were unable to capitilize, the Wings put men on first and third with one out to start the second. But the Wings took full advantage this time, as Velazquez knocked in both Chris Heintz and Alex Romero with a three-run home run, giving the Wings a 3-0 lead. It was Velazquez's first homer this year.

Munro retired three quick batters to start the third, and then the Wings continued their assault. Terry Tiffee led off with a double, followed by Jones' homer, his 17th this season, raising the lead to 5-0. With two outs, Romero came to bat for the Wings, and he nearly hit the second homer of the inning and third of the game. His deep shot to right didn't clear the wall, but Buffalo right fielder Jason Dubois missed the catch. Romero reached third, then scored off Shawn Wooten's double, giving the Wings back to back three-run innings.

Munro caught a nice break in the fourth. After walking three Bisons to load the bases with one out, Asdrubal Cabrera drilled a line drive between first and second. But Jones made an incredible catch, diving and stretching just far enough to make the out and hold the runners. Munro struck out his sixth Bison of the day to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded.

The Bisons fought back in the fifth, scoring four runs and ultimately ending Munro's outing. After loading the bases off an error, a single and hitting a batter, Dubois hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one runner. A walk to Lou Merloni loaded the bases again, and with two outs Jason Cooper hit a three RBI triple to right centerfield, shrinking the Wing lead to 6-4. After Munro's exit, Speigner made his first appearance since being promoted yesterday and subsequently ended the inning with a ground out.

Speigner (1-0, first Triple-A win) struck the first batter of the sixth, with pitches reaching well into the 90's on the radar gun. Speigner retired the next two as well, with Jones helping out again, making a diving grab of a grounder up the first baseline and flipping it to Speigner from the ground to end the inning.

In the seventh, Speigner allowed his only run, with Merloni driving in Jason Alfaro to bring the score to 6-5. The score remained the same entering the eighth, where Cabrera led off with an infield single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and to third on ground out by Francisco. But Speigner struck out the next batter to end the threat and preserve the Wing lead.

Bobby Korecky pitched the ninth for the Wings, and he ended the game with two fly outs to centerfield, and a line out to Tiffee at third. Korecky earned his sixth save for the Wings.

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International League Stories from August 10, 2006


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