IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Wings Offense Flying High

July 12, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


The Red Wings defeated the Indianapolis Indians 11-3 Thursday night at Frontier Field. The Wings offense dominated during the game with at least one hit in every inning. Brian Buscher led the offensive power play with two home runs, helping the Wings to 21 hits, the highest for the season.

Indianapolis took an early lead in the first inning. Lead off batter Don Kelly started the inning with a base hit to right field, then stole second. Kelly was brought home on an RBI single by Jose Hernandez to give the Indians the lead, 1-0.

The Red Wings tried to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Alexi Casilla started with a base hit, followed by two more hits from Matt Tolbert and Darnell McDonald. Casilla tried to make it to third off Tolbert's hit, but wasn't quick enough to beat a perfect throw from right fielder Yurendell de Caster and was tagged out. Tolbert then moved into scoring position off McDonald's hit, but was stranded there as Indianapolis was able to get the next two outs.

Buscher tied the score for the Wings in the second inning with a solo home run down the first base line, his fourth as a Red Wing. The Wings were unable to take the lead as Indianapolis starter Ricardo Rodriguez easily retired the next three batters.

After two hits and a run in the first inning, Rochester starter Kevin Slowey retired the next 10 batters he faced, with the help of diving defensive plays by Denard Span and McDonald.

Buscher did it again the next time he was up to bat, starting the fourth inning by smashing a home run off the top of the right field scoreboard, a 440-foot blast increasing the Wings lead. The Wings offense followed Buscher and ran with the lead in the rest of the fourth. Jose Morales hit a base hit after the home run and then advanced to second off a single by Span. Morales moved to third and Span was tagged out at second on a fielder's choice from Casilla. Tolbert plated Morales off a line drive, just past the glove of first baseman Brad Eldred. McDonald then slammed a ball to the wall for a two-run RBI double, bringing home Casilla and Tolbert, to increase the Wings lead to 5-1.

The Indians picked up a run off Slowey in the fifth, after Luis Ordaz knocked in de Caster with an RBI single. The Wings were able to keep the Indians from scoring another run by stopping Ordaz from reaching scoring position by great defensive plays by leftfielder Tommy Watkins and second baseman Tolbert to end the inning with a score of 5-2.

The Indians closed in on the Wings lead even further in the sixth. Michael Ryan got a base hit and moved to third off a line drive to center field by Hernandez. de Caster then hit a line drive to left field plating Ryan and placing him and Hernandez in scoring position bringing the score to 5-3. The Indians were left on base as Luis Matos grounded out to end the inning.

Gil Velazquez entered the game playing shortstop while Casilla moved to second base to start the seventh. Carmen Cali, who was recently optioned back to Rochester, entered the game relieving Slowey after Slowey allowed eight hits, six in his last two innings. Cali started the inning by allowing a double from Ordaz and walking Kelly to place the tying run on base. He got out of the inning with no runs by striking out the final two batters.

With a new Indianapolis pitcher, Brian Rogers, the Wings more than doubled their lead in the seventh. Matthew LeCroy started the inning with a base hit and was then replaced by pinch runner Trent Oeljten. Oeljten advanced to second on a base hit by Williams and both moved into scoring position off a wild pitch. Rogers then walked Buscher to load the bases. Morales came up to bat and grounded the ball to force out Oeljten at home plate. With the bases still loaded, Watkins hit a line drive to left field for an RBI single, plating Williams. Span then grounded into a force out bringing home Buscher. With three hits already, Casilla singled on a ground ball scoring Morales. After Rochester's third run of the inning, Indianapolis brought in Mark Corey to relieve Rogers and face Velazquez, who slammed a 2-run RBI double to centerfield to plate Span and Casilla doubling the Wings lead to 10-3. Velazquez was stranded on second as McDonald struck ! out to end the inning.

Julio DePaula relieved Cali in the eighth and started the inning by striking out the first batter. DePaula then retired the next two batters quickly ending the inning.

The Wings took their lead even further in the eighth. Corey started the inning by walking Oeljten and allowing a single by Williams. Oeljten advanced to third off a fielder's choice from Buscher, which got Williams out at second. Watkins then drove a ball down the third base line for a single RBI bringing home Oeljten to give the Wings the 11-3 lead.

Brain Bass came in to pitch for DePaula in the ninth and struck out the first two batters. The game ended with a strong defensive play by Velazquez who dropped a ground ball but was able to recover quickly to get the final out at first and secure the Wings win.

Slowey took the win for the Wings improving his record to 7-2. Rodriguez took the loss bringing his record to 0-2.

NOTES: The Wings had 21 hits in Thursday night's game, the most hits since the Wings hosted Pawtucket on August 30, 2004 where they had 25 hits ... Garrett Jones was promoted to the Minnesota Twins Thursday. Jones was batting .295 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 83 games for the Wings. Jones takes the roster spot of Cali who was optioned to Rochester. Cali is 3-0 with one save and a 2.93 ERA in 20 games for Rochester...Tommy Watkins and Denard Span will be guest DJ's on the Slow Flow Show Friday morning at 10 am, on 89.7 FM WITR and WITR.RIT.edu. Tommy and Denard will be dropping R&B and hip-hop with host jaythreeoh so check it.....RHP Nick Blackburn will be honored Friday at the Morgan Stanley Red Wings Player of the Month lunch... RHP Angel Garcia was promoted from Class A Ft. Myers to Double-A New Britain. Garcia was 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA and four saves at Ft. Myers before his promotion.... LHP Glen Perkins (DL, shoulder strain) tossed two innings Wednesday for the Twins' Rookie level Gulf Coast League club, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two. Perkins will continue his rehab assignment when he starts for Class A Fort Myers Saturday, and will make at least one start for the Wings b! ased on his current rehab schedule...LHP Alexander Smi! t was claimed off the Twins' 40-man roster by Cincinnati Thursday. Smit was 1-4 with a 5.86 ERA in 18 games (eight starts) at Class A Ft. Myers.

Check out the Rochester Red Wings Statistics



International League Stories from July 12, 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