By JOHN LIKANJE
Mark Bowden may not have been the Red Wings’ ace in 1988, but he pitched like one against Columbus. The 6-foot southpaw beat the Clippers, 3-1, to improve his record to 3-0 against the division rivals. The victory snapped a three-game skid for the Red Wings in a stretch in which they had lost five of seven.
Bowden hurled 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball, limiting the damage to five hits and three walks while fanning a career-high 12 batters. He came within one out of a complete game shutout before unraveling with a single, back-to-back walks and a run-scoring hit.
Kevin Hickey relieved Bowden and induced a flyout to close the game.
“This was the worst I ever wanted a complete game, especially the shutout,” Bowden told the Democrat and Chronicle.
Despite giving up the run, Bowden’s earned run average against the Clippers after the start was only 1.25. Overall, it was his fifth victory in his last six outings.
“I don’t pitch them any different,” Bowden explained. “I pitch righties the same as lefties. I get ahead with my fastball. Maybe I get them out with a slider. I don’t know how to explain why.”
Chris Padget and Craig Worthington produced run-scoring doubles in a three-run fifth to supply Bowden all the offense he required. Worthington’s two-run base knock added to his International League-high 56 RBI as well.
For the Clippers, Alvaro Espinoza spoiled Bowden’s complete game shutout bid with an infield single.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 5th: Craig Worthington doubles. Steve Finley and Wade Rowdon score. Red Wings 2, Clippers 0
Bottom 5th: Chris Padget doubles. Craig Worthington scores. Red Wings 3, Clippers 0
Top 9th: Alvaro Espinoza singles. Jeff Moronko scores. Red Wings 3, Clippers 1
Columbus batting
| Batter | p | ab | r | h | bi | |
| Turner | Ward | LF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ross | Jones | 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Hal | Morris | 1B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Hensley | Meulens | 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete | Dalena | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby | Green | CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jeff | Moronko | RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob | Geren | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne | Krenchicki | DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alvaro | Espinoza | SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Rochester batting
| Batter | p | ab | r | h | bi | |
| Jeff | Stone | LF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve | Finley | CF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wade | Rowdon | 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Craig | Worthington | 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Chris | Padget | 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Carl | Nichols | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt | Cimo | RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Victor | Mata | DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D.L. | Smith | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Columbus pitching
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
| Al | Leiter | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Bert | Pena | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
Rochester pitching
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
| Mark | Bowden | 8 2/3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Kevin | Hickey | 1/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Also on this day: 1933 – The Red Wings and Maple Leafs split a doubleheader in Toronto. Toronto won Game 1, 6-4, before Rochester responded with a 4-2 victory in Game 2. 2005 – Good pitching and big hitting led the way as the Red Wings won, 8-2 over the Durham Bulls at Frontier Field. Terry Tiffee put the game out of reach in the first inning with a three-run double. Henry Bonilla pitched a quality game as well.
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