Aug.-Sept. in the International League

Aug. 1 -- Jim Magrane struck out 10 over eight innings in his first Triple-A game of the season as Durham beat Rochester, 5-1. Magrane limited the Red Wings to one run on four hits and a walk, while Brent Butler and Luis Rivas each drove in two runs for the Bulls.

Aug. 2 -- Tim Redding pitched six shutout innings and Josh Fields homered twice as Charlotte rolled to a 13-1 rout of Durham. Redding gave up one hit and struck out seven as he lowered his ERA to 3.73. Fields went 4-for-6 with four runs scored and three RBIs, while Ernie Young contributed two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Aug. 3 -- Rob Cosby drove in a season-high six runs as Syracuse defeated Pawtucket, 12-3. The 25-year-old third baseman belted a two-run homer in the fourth inning, delivered a two-run single and smacked a two-run double in the eighth. John Hattig was 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored for the SkyChiefs, who broke open a 3-3 tie with a six-run eight inning.

Aug. 4 -- Matt Garza tossed seven strong innings to win his third straight decision as Rochester blanked Charlotte, 8-0. The right-hander gave up four hits, walked one and struck out 11 -- his second-highest total of the season. Garrett Jones snapped a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the eighth, then capped a five-run ninth with a two-run double.

Aug. 5 -- Jason Dubois blasted a pair of two-run homers as Buffalo pounded Norfolk, 11-1. Dubois went 3-for-4 with a walk and four runs scored. Brian Slocum and two relievers limited the Tides to four hits. Slocum pitched a season-high 6 1/3 innings en route to his fourth straight win.

Aug. 6 -- Carlos Pena's walk-off homer in the 11th inning gave Columbus a 10-9 victory over Indianapolis. Pena, who had two hits and two runs scored, also delivered a two-run double in a five-run first. Reliever Brian Bruney retired all six batters he faced to pick up the win.
Audio: Pena lifts Clippers

Aug. 7 -- Terry Tiffee hit two homers as Rochester rallied for a 9-8, 10-inning win over Pawtucket. He hit his third homer of the season with two outs in the third inning and slugged a game-tying grand slam with two outs in the ninth. Chris Heintz led off the bottom of the 10th with a single, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on pinch-hitter Quinton McCracken's one-out double.
Audio: McCracken's game-winning double

Aug. 7 -- Alexis Gomez hit four home runs to power Toledo past Columbus, 15-8. Gomez led off the game with his fourth homer of the season, cracked a two-run shot in the fourth inning, smacked another solo blast in the sixth and etched his name in the record books with a solo dinger in the ninth. Bubba Trammell was the last Mud Hen and International Leaguer to hit four homers in a game on Aug. 9, 1997.
Audio: Gomez's fourth homer

Aug. 8 -- Dave Gassner and two relievers combined on a four-hitter as Rochester edged Pawtucket, 1-0. Gassner gave up one hit, walked three and struck out five over five innings in his first Triple-A appearance of the season. He was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in three starts with Class A Advanced Fort Myers.

Aug. 8 -- Jason Dubois hit a three-run homer to cap a seven-run ninth inning as Buffalo rallied for a 12-9 win over Ottawa. The 27-year-old right fielder was hitless in his first four at-bats before sending a drive over the left-center field fence for his 20th homer. He was 7-for-21 with four homers and 10 RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

Aug. 9 -- Dan Curtis and two relievers combined on a four-hitter as Richmond posted a 5-1 win over Norfolk. Curtis yielded three hits over seven scoreless innings to notch his first win since July 18. Paul Bush tossed a perfect eighth and Peter Moylan gave up one run while striking out the side in the ninth.

Aug. 10 -- Ryan Vogelsong retired the first 15 batters he faced and pitched seven solid innings as Indianapolis cruised to an 8-2 triumph over Louisville. The 29-year-old right-hander gave up two runs -- one earned -- on four hits and a walk while striking out seven.

Aug. 11 -- Evan MacLane yielded one run on three hits over 7 1/3 innings, leading Norfolk to a 5-1 victory over Toledo. The 23-year-old left-hander took a one-hitter into the eighth inning and lowered his ERA to 3.95. Tides third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo hit a two-run homer in the sixth and an RBI single in the eighth.

Aug. 12 -- Tommy Phelps and three relievers limited Richmond to three hits as Columbus shut down the Braves, 7-1. Phelps allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two over five innings to win for the fourth time in five decisions. Clippers first baseman Mitch Jones was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and an RBI double.

Aug. 13 -- Kevin Kouzmanoff went 4-for-4 as Buffalo pounded out 12 hits in a 7-3 win over Rochester. The 25-year-old third baseman delivered a game-tying RBI single in the eighth and scored twice. Kouzmanoff, who was 7-for-8 in a two-game span, made his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians on Sept. 2 and became the third player in Major League history to hit a grand slam in his first at-bat.
Audio: Kouzmanoff's RBI single

Aug. 14 -- Rob Bell threw a season-high eight innings and Buffalo held on for a 4-3 victory over Pawtucket. Bell, who set down the final 10 batters he faced, gave up one run on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. The win was his third straight.

Aug. 15 -- Brian Bannister tossed eight stellar innings to outduel Ryan Vogelsong as Norfolk edged Indianapolis, 1-0. Bannister, the New York Mets' 2005 Minor League Player of the Year, gave up three hits and struck out seven in the start of a personal three-game winning streak. Vogelsong also went eight innings, allowing one run on hit with five strikeouts. Chris Basak hit his seventh homer with two outs in the fifth for the game's only run.

Aug. 16 -- Red-hot Dustin Pedroia went 4-for-5 with an RBI as Pawtucket posted a 7-3 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 22-year-old second baseman had hits in eight consecutive at-bats before flying out in the eighth inning. Alejandro Machado homered and David Murphy doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Red Sox.

Aug. 17 -- Brian Bowles allowed three hits over seven innings as Ottawa blanked Buffalo, 1-0. He walked three and struck out one, lowering his ERA to 2.90. Napoleon Calzado lined a double to left field to start the bottom of the fifth and, one out later, Eli Whiteside singled him home with the game's only run.

Aug. 18 -- Ryan Ludwick slugged two homers to power Toledo past Richmond, 5-3. Ludwick hit his 22nd homer with two outs in the first inning and smacked another solo blast in the fifth to tie Josh Phelps for the team lead. Braves starter Anthony Lerew struck out a season-high 10 but surrendered five runs on nine hits over six frames for the loss.
Audio: Ludwick's second homer of the game

Aug. 19 -- Toledo pounded out 25 hits, including six homers, in a 20-2 rout of Columbus. Mike Rabelo went 4-for-6 with a homer, five RBIs and three runs scored, Chris Shelton was 4-for-4 with a homer, four runs scored and two RBIs and Jack Hannahan went 3-for-5 with a homer, five RBIs and two runs scored.
Audio: Rabelo's slam

Aug. 19 -- Jason Miller fired a two-hitter for his first career shutout as Rochester blanked Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 2-0. Miller allowed two singles and struck out seven in his first complete game since Aug. 5, 2001, with Elizabethton of the Appalachian League. The 24-year-old southpaw threw 108 pitches and retired 19 straight batters before Jim Rushford led off the eighth with a single.

Aug. 19 -- Trying to work his way back to the Major Leagues, Oliver Perez pitched seven strong innings as Norfolk whitewashed Charlotte, 1-0. Perez gave up a single, walked two and struck out 11 for his first win since July 25. The left-hander was recalled by the New York Mets in September and made two postseason starts. Jacob Cruz singled in Anderson Hernandez with two outs in the third inning for the game's lone run.
Audio: Perez loses no-hit bid

Aug. 20 -- Michael Gosling tossed 6 1/3 innings to win his second straight start as Louisville blanked Durham, 2-0. Gosling, who retired 14 of the first 16 batters he faced, surrendered five hits and a walk with six strikeouts. It was just the second time he did not allow a run in 23 starts during 2006.

Aug. 21 -- Bobby Smith's walk-off homer in the 10th inning gave Charlotte a 3-2 victory over Norfolk in the second game of a doubleheader. The Knights had clinched the South Division title when Indianapolis defeated Durham. Smith had four of the nine hits for Charlotte, which made the postseason for the first time since 1999.
Audio: Smith's walk-off dinger

Aug. 22 -- Ryan Ludwick went 3-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs and two runs scored as Toledo cruised to a 10-5 win over Columbus. Ludwick, who earned Player of the Week honors, drilled a two-run shot in the fourth inning and a solo blast in the ninth. It was his second two-homer game in five days.
Audio: Ludwick's second homer of the game

Aug. 23 -- Ryan Ludwick hit his third homer in two days as Toledo defeated Indianapolis, 7-3. Ludwick also slapped an RBI double in the third inning and cracked a two-run homer in the fifth. Mud Hens starter Jordan Tata went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts for his 10th win.
Audio: Ludwick goes deep again

Aug. 24 -- Brian Mazone pitched a season-high eight innings and Angel Chavez drove in four runs as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre defeated Buffalo, 4-1. Mazone allowed an unearned run on six hits and a walk. The left-hander struck out four and lowered his ERA to an International League-best 2.08. Chavez ripped a two-run homer in the fourth and laced a two-run double in the sixth.

Aug. 25 -- Tim Redding fanned a season-high 10 over eight innings as Charlotte shut out Durham, 5-0. Redding, who threw 69 of 94 pitches for strikes, gave up three hits and a walk to avoid losing a third straight start. Knights left fielder Tony Torcato went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored.
Audio: Redding's 10th strikeout

Aug. 26 -- Hayden Penn yielded five hits and struck out a season-high 10 over eight strong innings as Ottawa coasted past Syracuse, 9-0. Penn, who was named Pitcher of the Week, didn't walk a batter and lowered his ERA to 2.26. Lynx designated hitter Napoleon Calzado slugged a grand slam in the sixth and Eli Whiteside added a three-run homer in the eighth.
Audio: Penn's 10th strikeout

Aug. 27 -- Caonabo Cosme led off the bottom of the ninth inning with his fourth homer of the season to give Columbus a 2-1 victory over Indianapolis. The Clippers were scoreless until Ben Davis singled in Bronson Sardinha with one out in the eighth. Indians starter Shane Youman, who didn't allow a hit over the first seven innings, gave up one run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts over 7 1/3 frames.
Audio: Cosme's walk-off homer

Aug. 28 -- Rodney Nye and Ty Wigginton homered as Durham edged Toledo, 8-7. Nye hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Wigginton smacked a two-run shot in the seventh after Wes Bankston's RBI single pulled the Bulls within 7-6. Darnell McDonald had two hits and scored twice for Durham.

Aug. 29 -- Jason Alfaro homered and drove in a season-high five runs to send Buffalo past Ottawa, 9-1. Alfaro belted a three-run homer in the fourth inning and lined a two-run double in the sixth. Franklin Gutierrez and Jonathan Van Every also homered for the Bisons.

Aug. 30 -- Brian Mazone tossed seven innings and won for the fourth time in five starts as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre topped Syracuse, 3-1. Over two outings, Mazone surrendered two runs -- one earned -- on 14 hits in 16 innings. Syracuse's Josh Towers struck out 11 over 6 2/3 innings but allowed three runs -- two earned -- and suffered the loss.

Aug. 31 -- Sergio Santos led off the bottom of the 15th inning with a homer, and three batters later, Luis Figueroa slapped a run-scoring single to give Syracuse a 6-5 triumph over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Pedro Swann led off the 15th with his third homer of the season to give the Red Barons a short-lived lead. Brennan King had three of the 13 hits for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Audio: Figueroa wins it for Chiefs

Sept. 1 -- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre edged Syracuse, 3-2, to clinch the North Division title. Pedro Swann led off the sixth inning with a double and scored on Jim Rushford's sacrifice fly to give the Red Barons a 2-1 lead. Josh Kroeger opened the eighth with his ninth homer for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which won its first title since 2002.
Audio: Red Barons clinch division

Sept. 2 -- Joe Mays pitched a seven-hitter for his first Minor League complete game in nine years as Louisville topped Indianapolis, 6-2. Mays, who went 0-1 with a 7.33 ERA in seven appearances for the Cincinnati Reds, struck out four and won for the fourth time in five starts. Bats first baseman Jesse Gutierrez went 3-for-4 with run-scoring singles in the first and fifth innings.
Audio: Mays goes the distance

Sept. 3 -- Jeremy Cummings pitched a no-hitter as Scranton Wilkes-Barre blanked Rochester, 5-0. Cummings walked four, hit a batter and matched a season-best with nine strikeouts in the first complete-game no-hitter in the International League since May 15, 2005. Carlos Leon and Gary Burnham each had four of the Red Barons' 16 hits.
Audio: Cummings throws no-hitter

Sept. 3 -- Louisville's Tom Shearn, fanned a season-high eight and combined with Brad Salmon and Scott Chiasson on a one-hitter in a 4-0 blanking of Indianapolis. Shearn allowed the lone Indians' hit over six innings. Salmon struck out four in two frames before Chiasson walked one and fanned two in the ninth.

Sept. 4 -- In his final regular-season game, Wes Timmons homered twice and drove in four runs to power Richmond past Charlotte, 5-4. The 27-year-old third baseman hit a two-run dinger in the first inning and a solo shot in the sixth before drawing a bases-loaded walk in the fifth. Ernie Young and Ruben Rivera homered for the Knights.
Audio: Timmons' second homer of the game

Sept. 4 -- Gary Burnham collected a season-high six RBIs as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre beat Rochester, 8-1. Burnham lined a two-run double in the first inning, an RBI single in the fifth and smacked a three-run shot in the ninth. Red Barons starter J.A. Happ and three relievers held the Red Wings to six hits.

Sept. 5 -- Toledo earned a chance to defend its Governors' Cup title after defeating Indianapolis, 4-0, in a one-game playoff for the West Division title. Colby Lewis yielded four hits, walked two and struck out seven over seven innings. Ryan Ludwick and Mike Hessman both homered and drove in two runs for the Mud Hens.
Audio: Mud Hens return to playoffs

Sept. 6 -- Tim Redding tossed his second straight complete game to lead Charlotte past Toleod, 5-0, in the opener of their best-of-5 playoff series. Redding, who threw 126 pitches, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out a season-high 12. Jerry Owens and Jorge Velandia hit consecutive RBI doubles in the third for Charlotte.
Audio: Redding blanks Hens

Sept. 6 -- Garrett Jones went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Rochester to a 6-5 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in Game 1 of their playoff series. Jones doubled and scored in the fourth inning and delivered RBI singles in the fifth and sixth.

Sept. 7 -- Chad Durbin went the distance as Toledo defeated Charlotte, 6-2, to even their playoff series at one game apiece. Durbin gave up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six. Christopher Maples hit a three-run homer in the second inning to give the Mud Hens an early lead, and Josh Phelps slugged a solo shot in the sixth.
Audio: Durbin goes the distance

Sept. 7 -- Quinton McCracken went 4-for-4 with a three-run homer as Rochester pounded out 11 hits and defeated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 11-5, take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. McCracken was 6-for-8 in the first two games of the series. Red Wings first baseman Garrett Jones had two hits and two RBIs after collecting three hits in the opener.
Audio: McCracken goes yard

Sept. 8 -- Justin Germano pitched effectively into the eighth inning and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre avoided a sweep by posting a 6-3 victory over Rochester, 6-3. Germano gave up three runs on eight hits with two walks and a season-high nine strikeouts. Carlos Leon's run-scoring single in the sixth broke a 3-3 tie, and Red Barons designated hitter Gary Burnham drilled a a solo homer in the seventh.
Audio: Germano's ninth strikeout

Sept. 8 -- Eulogio de la Cruz struck out 11 over seven innings and was backed by four home runs as Toledo topped Charlotte, 6-2. De la Cruz gave up two runs on six hits and a walk. Mike Rabelo, Dustan Mohr, Ryan Raburn and Josh Phelps went deep for the Mud Hens.
Audio: Rabelo and Mohr hit back-to-back homers

Sept. 9 -- Minnesota Twins rookie phenom Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins held Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to one hit as Rochester recorded a 2-0 victory to advance to the Governors' Cup Finals for the first time since 1997. Liriano pitched three hitless innings, walking one and striking out four, in a rehab start. Perkins picked up the win after allowing one hit with two walks and five strikeouts over six innings.
Audio: Red Barons eliminate Red Wings

Sept. 9 -- Pinch-hitter David Espinosa slugged a three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning to give Toledo a 5-2 win over Charlotte and a return trip to the Governors' Cup Finals. Dustan Mohr and Christopher Maples walked before Espinosa connected for his first postseason homer. Mud Hens starter Brian Boehringer gave up two runs on three hits while striking out four over six innings.
Audio: Espinosa's three-run homer

Sept. 12 -- Mike Hessman homered twice as Toledo rallied past Rochester, 6-3, in the opener of the International League Finals. The Mud Hens trailed, 3-0, when Hessman hit his first postseason homer with one out in the seventh inning. With two outs in the eighth, Hessman slugged a three-run shot to put Toledo ahead for good.
Audio: Hessman goes deep

Sept. 13 -- Kevin Slowey tossed 7 2/3 strong innings as Rochester defeated Toledo, 6-1, to even the Governors' Cup Finals at one win apiece. The 22-year-old right-hander gave up one run on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts, retiring 10 of the final 11 batters he faced before Kevin Cameron got the final four outs. Red Wings first baseman Garrett Jones was 2-for-2 with two walks and a three-run homer that snapped a 1-1 tie in the third.
Audio: Slowey's sixth strikeout

Sept. 14 -- Glen Perkins pitched seven innings to win his second straight postseason start as Rochester beat Toledo, 10-4, to grab a 2-1 lead in the Governors' Cup Finals. Perkins held the Mud Hens to three runs on six hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts. Garrett Jones homered for the second consecutive game and Glenn Williams drove in three runs for the Red Wings, who rapped 17 hits. Rochester catcher Jose Morales was 3-for-4 with a homer and three runs scored.

Sept. 15 -- Toledo smacked four homers and cruised to a 6-0 victory over Rochester that forced a decisive Game 5 in the Governors' Cup Finals. Dustan Mohr and Mike Hessman hit two-run blasts, while David Espinosa and Jack Hannahan slugged solo shots. Mud Hens starter Brian Boehringer scattered six hits over 5 1/3 shutout innings before getting ejected for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Troy Fullwood.

Sept. 16 -- Toledo again hit four homers, including three in the second inning, to rout Rochester, 10-1, and win the Governors' Cup for the second straight year. The Mud Hens became the 11th team, and first since Durham in 2002-03, to repeat as International League champions. Mike Hessman sparked a four-run second with his fifth postseason homer and David Espinosa and Dustan Mohr hit back-to-back roundtrippers later in the frame.
Audio: Mud Hens win championship