IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Wings Work Overtime, But Lose in 14

Published on May 24, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


Wes Bankston's one-out sacrifice fly in the 14th inning brought home the winning run, helping the Durham Bulls to a 10-6 win over the Red Wings Thursday afternoon at Frontier Field. Josh Rabe had two hits and three RBI for the Wings. Rochester trailed 3-0 before rallying to tie the score in the seventh, then tied it again on Rabe's double in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. The two teams continue their Memorial Day Weekend series with 7:05 pm games Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with fireworks following each night's game.

Durham scored four runs in the14th inning with one out, roughing up Brian Bass after Bass pitched a perfect 13th inning.

The Wings got off to a sluggish start after committing two errors in the first inning. With two outs Justin Ruggiano hit a double and then scored on a single by Wes Bankston that went through the legs of left fielder Tommy Watkins. Chris Richard followed with an infield single that allowed Bankston to score after Matt Moses' throwing error from third base, making it 2-0.

In the second inning the Bulls continued their hitting attack. Dustin Mohr led off the inning with a single to center field. Two batters later Josh Johnson hit an RBI single to give the Bulls a 3-0 advantage.

Bulls reliever Jeff Ridgeway came in for Howell in the sixth inning and allowed the Wings to capitalize on his inefficient pitching. After Watkins' leadoff single, Gil Velazquez followed with a double to right field that was misjudged by Ruggiano. Denard Span's RBI ground out cut the Wings deficit to 3-1, and Alexi Casilla's bunt single down the third base line was followed by an RBI fielder's choice by Rabe to trim the Bulls' lead to 3-2.

After another pitching change by the Bulls, the Wings found more offense in the seventh inning. Scott Dohman replaced Ridgeway and gave up a single to Glenn Williams, who then stole second base with only one out. Moses' RBI double down the right field line tied the game at 3-3. After a walk by Watkins and a Velazquez fly out, Span grounded out on a double-steal move that ended the inning.

The Bulls regained their offense in the eighth inning. After Ricky Barrett-- who had not given up a run in over nine innings pitched since coming off the disabled list-- gave up a single to Richard with two outs, Joel Guzman hit a two-run home run that bounced off the left field scoreboard to help the Bulls regain their lead at 5-3. Mohr followed with a double and Elliot Johnson walked, but Barrett struck out Johnson to end the inning.

The Wings pulled to within one off Seth McClung in the eighth, on an RBI single from Garrett Jones. The Wings had two runners on when third baseman Guzman made a great fielding play, throwing out Moses on a close play at first that was argued by coach Rich Miller.

After getting the first two batters to fly out in the ninth inning, Wings reliever Jason Miller gave up a solo home run to Ruggiano to extend the deficit to 6-4. But the Wings provided plenty of drama in the bottom half after Velazquez sparked the offense with a double to right with only one out. Span followed with a strikeout and Casilla walked to give the Wings runners on first and second base with two outs. Rabe hit a line-drive double over Mohr's head in center field to tie the game 6-6.

Wings closer Bobby Korecky relieved Miller and finished the 10th, then struck out the side in the 11th. Korecky worked a total of three hitless innings, striking out five.

The Wings had a great chance in the 11th, putting two runners on with one out against Steve Andrade but failing to cash in on the potential game-winning situation.

NOTES: Jose Morales, who replaced catcher Matthew LeCroy in the ninth inning, had three hits in three at-bats to raise his average to .341...Rochester had won six in a row and seven of their last eight games vs. the Bulls at Frontier Field before Thursday. The Red Wings' four-game sweep of the Bulls at Frontier Field last season was the first time either team swept the other in a series since Durham joined the International League in 1998...Span is the only Red Wing who has played in every game this season. Since 1988 only two players have played 135 or more games in a sea! son (Danny Clyburn, 137 games in 1997 and Garrett Jones, 140 games in 2006).... Double-A New Britain pounded out 16 hits in a 12-2 win over Bowie Thursday afternoon. Brian Buscher had four hits, including his third homer of the season. Rock Cats Starter Jesse Floyd allowed four hits and fanned five in seven innings...... Thursday's attendance of 10,164 was the largest of the season so far.

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International League Stories from May 24, 2007


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