Tuesday 5/13/08
WINGS RALLY, FALL SHORT IN LOSS The Rochester Red Wings fought back from a five-run deficit, falling short in a 7-5 loss to the Columbus Clippers Tuesday night at Frontier Field. Brian Buscher had four hits and three RBI for the Wings. The two clubs continue the series with an 11:05 am game Wednesday.

Columbus jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, scoring four unearned runs in the top of the first inning. Lead-off hitter Tommy Murphy reached on a Howie Clark error and took second on a balk by Rochester starter Kevin Mulvey. Pete Orr followed with a single and after a strike out of Yurendell de Caster, Ryan Langerhans doubled down the right field line to plate two. Langerhans swiped third and scored on a sacrifice fly to right. After a single and a walk Javi Herrera knocked in two more with a double to center.

The Wings answered right back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Lead-off hitter Denard Span scorched a home run over the centerfield wall, his second round tripper in as many games. The home run was the first that Clippers starter Collin Balester (4-2) has given up to a lefty in his International League career (167 AB). After a Jason Pridie groundout, Darnell McDonald ripped a double to center. He took third on an errant pick-off attempt by Balester and scored on a single by Buscher.

Mulvey (2-5) settled down and retired six straight batters, and the Wings inched closer in the third - when Buscher crushed a 2-1 Balester pitch for a home run to right field, making it a 5-3 Columbus lead.

Columbus had two runners on and two outs in the fourth when Heath Totten received the call from the bullpen to relieve Mulvey, who had already logged 69 pitches. The outing was Mulvey's shortest of the season. Totten walked de Caster to load the bases then caught Langerhans looking to end the threat.

The Wings got within one in the fourth. Clark singled back up the middle to lead off the inning and scored on Chris Basak's double to the left-center field gap. Basak moved to third with one out on a Span sacrifice bunt but the Wings couldn't cash him in as Pridie went down swinging and McDonald was thrown out at first on a terrific play by Balester on a swinging bunt up the third base line.

Columbus got a run back in the sixth off Ricky Barrett, who tossed two relief innings. Casey Daigle allowed a ninth inning run, the first earned run he's allowed in his last eight appearances.

Rochester picked up another run in the ninth off Charlie Manning, when Span walked and scored on a two-out RBI single from Buscher. Manning recorded his fifth save.

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This Day in International League History

May 13, 1988
Maine and Pawtucket play host to the first interleague games of the new Triple-A Alliance.
Ten years before the Major Leagues would adopt the practice, the International League and
American Association agree to have each of their clubs play a total of 42 regular season games
against members of the opposite league. (Facing the prospect of a difficult and expensive travel
schedule, the Pacific Coast League chose not to participate in the Alliance.) The plan is designed to
give fans a chance to see Triple-A players from 16 organizations instead of 8. The idea for
interleague play becomes reality on May 13, 1988 with a pair of victories for the IL clubs. Pawtucket
defeats Oklahoma City 4-2 at McCoy Stadium, while the Maine Guides squeak by Denver 4-3.

Upcoming Starting Pitchers:
Wed. COL 11:05am LHP Brian Duensing (2-4, 3.40) vs. RHP Tyler Clippard (2-3, 4.34) WYSL 1040 AM
Thur. COL 7:05 LHP Francisco Liriano (0-1, 4.66) vs. RHP Jason Bergmann (2-2, 3.72)WHTK 1280 AM
Fri. COL 7:05 RHP Philip Humber (1-4, 5.29) vs. RHP Steven Shell (1-1, 3.10) WHTK 1280 AM
Sat. @Syr 7:00 TBA
Sun. @Syr 2:00 TBA

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