Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - Monday, April 30 at Buffalo
April 30, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release
MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012 w COCA-COLA FIELD
GAME #24 - ROAD GAME #12 - 6:05 P.M.
ROCHESTER RED WINGS (9-14) at BUFFALO BISONS (14-10)
RHP DARYL THOMPSON (1-2, 4.26) vs. LHP GARRETT OLSON (0-1, 2.82)
NO ROOM FOR A BROOM: The Rochester Red Wings tonight close out their 4-game series at the Buffalo Bisons (Mets), reaching the halfway point of their 8-game roadtrip that also includes a 4-game set at the Empire State Yankees at Frontier Field beginning tomorrow. Following a brief 2-game homestand next weekend vs. Buffalo, the Wings hit the road for their first of 5 season-long 8-game roadtrips with stops at Pawtucket (Red Sox) and Syracuse (Nationals).
a Rochester is 5 days (6 games) into a stretch of playing a season-high 28 days in a row through May 22 (barring any rainouts). The Wings are winless to start the stretch.
NEWS OF THE DAY: The Red Wings and Monroe County today proclaimed May as "Baseball Month in Rochester." Frontier Field is hosting games on 26 of the 31 days in the month, as the Empire State Yankees use the downtown ballpark as a temporary home while PNC Field in Allentown, PA undergoes a season-long renovation. The month-long initiative includes a substantial charity component, highlighted by a different not-for-profit group being hosted in a suite during each of the 26 games. For more information, visit RedWingsBaseball.com.
ROSTER ADDITION: The Red Wings today received left-handed pitcher Luke French from Double-A New Britain. The 26-year-old went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 5 starts for the Rock Cats. He limited the opposition to a .170 average and gave up just one home run in 30.0 innings. French, who signed with the Twins a free agent on January 18, spent the 2011 season with Triple-A Tacoma (Mariners), where he went 9-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 26 starts. He has 31 major league games (25 starts) to his credit with Detroit and Seattle from 2009-10.
a The Wings yesterday received Ben Revere from the Minnesota Twins, who optioned the outfielder following Friday night's game. Revere comes back to the Red Wings after Josh Willingham returned from the Paternity Leave List.
OH DEAR: At 9-14, the Red Wings are off to their worst start since 2010, when they posted the same record through their first 23 games. Should the Wings lose tonight, they would be off to their worst 24-game start since the 2001 club went 8-16.
a A win tonight, however, would give the Red Wings their most wins in April since the 2008 club went 13-14 in the season-opening month.
a The Wings have lost a season-high 6 in a row, 8 of their last 10, and 12 of their last 16 since opening the year 5-2. The 6-game skid is the club's longest since losing a 2011 season-worst 6-gamer August 20-25. Rochester tonight looks to avoid its first losing streak of 7 or more games since a 12-game losing streak August 23-September 3, 2010.
PEPSI ANYONE?: The Red Wings last night extended their losing streak in Coke-themed ballparks to 15 games. Rochester has lost 9 straight at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, the longest streak against an opponent on the road, and 6 in a row at Lehigh Valley's (Phillies) Coca-Cola Park. The Wings last won in Buffalo in the 2nd game of an April 19, 2011 doubleheader, a 2-0 triumph in 7 innings.
a The Wings were last victorious in Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania on May 29, 2011, when they posted a 6-2 win. The Wings' next opportunity to end that skid is June 26-29. Perhaps the Times Union Center (formerly known as Pepsi Arena) in Albany can host a few baseball games.
LET'S RE-LIVE THAT OPENING DAY MAGIC: Since scoring a season-high 7 runs on Opening Day, April 5 at Syracuse (Nationals), the Red Wings have been held to 5 runs or less in each of their last 22 games. In the 5 contests they've scored at least 5 runs, the Wings are 4-1. They are 5-13 in their other 17 games.
a The Red Wings have scored an International League-low 71 runs, 9 fewer than the next closest team, Norfolk, which has 80. The league leader is Toledo (Tigers), which has plated 126 runs, 55 more than Rochester.
a The Wings have been held to 3 runs or less in 4 straight games.
a The Wings are hitting just .205 (9-for-44) with runners in scoring position during their 6-game losing streak, including a 4-for-21 mark (.190) in 3 games this series.
THE BRIGHT SIDE: On a more positive note, the Red Wings have grounded into an International League-low 9 double plays, including just one in the last 5 games. The next closest is Indianapolis (Pirates) with 10. Rochester also leads the league with 9 triples, 2 more than Columbus (Indians) and Gwinnett (Braves).
CUP 'O JOE: Joe Benson, the Twins' No. 2 prospect according to Baseball America, has recorded 6 RBI in his last 7 games after driving in only one run in his first 15 contests. Not only that, each of his last 5 hits has gone for extra bases (2 doubles, one triple, and 2 home runs). All 5 extra-base knocks have come in the last 5 games. He had just 2 extra-base hits in his first 17 games.
PRESTIGIOUS HARDWARE: The Red Wings are in the midst of a heated battle for the Thruway Series Cup, a 3-team race for the best record in upstate New York among Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse. Here are the standings of the Hillside Family of Agencies Thruway Series (Cup standings include only games against one another):
Rank Team Record Winning %
1. Buffalo .727
2. Syracuse .500
3. Rochester .333
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