Lynx solve Chiavacci, beat Mud Hens in 10 innings

6/22/2007

OTTAWA, Ont. - Ron Chiavacci nearly put the perfect exclamation point on a near-perfect road trip. Unfortunately for the Mud Hens and their starting pitcher, the Ottawa Lynx contributed the final punctuation.

Chiavacci was lights out for 72/3 innings but got in trouble in the eighth and had to settle for a no decision as the Lynx salvaged the final game of the series with a 4-3 win in 10 innings.

Up 3-1 with two out in the eighth, Chiavacci walked Brennan Kin then gave up a game-tying home run to Gary Burnham.

Then with two out in the 10th, King doubled off reliever Aquilino Lopez (0-1) and pinch runner Chris Roberson scored the winning run on Jim Rushford's single.

"Ronny pitched a heck of a game and we just ended up on the losing side. It was a good game," said Mud Hens interim manager Mike Rojas.

"It was his game, his pitch count was fine and he just gave up the home run to tie it. Tip your hat."

The Mud Hens still came away with three wins in the four games after taking three of four during the previous series in Syracuse.

"We'll take six out of eight any day," Rojas said. "That was a good road trip."

Third baseman Jack Hannahan thinks it good have been a touch better.

"We let one slip away, but we had a solid road trip," Hannahan said. "We're swinging the bats well, we're pitching well, the bullpen is solid and now we just need to head home and carry this momentum into the next series with Indy."

The series with the Indianapolis Indians is as big a series as you can get in June with the two clubs fighting for top spot in the International League West. The Lynx will then visit Fifth Third Field for four games.

Hannahan gave the Mud Hens a 2-0 lead with a home run off Lynx starter Eude Brito that scored Chris Shelton ahead of him.

"I faced Brito coming up probably at each stop we made, so I knew he had a good cutter-slider and I was just trying to hit a fastball. Luckily he left one out over the plate."

Brito left after four innings of work but the Lynx bullpen completely shut the Mud Hens down. Jason Anderson came on in relief of Brito and threw two scoreless innings before Clay Condrey (1-0) finished off the next four allowing just one single.

Hannahan had that one single, which came in the ninth, but a line drive to first base doubled up Hannahan to end the inning. The Mud Hens went one-two-three in the 10th.

NOTE: Mud Hens right-hander Dennis Tankersley was placed on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.