June 22, 2009

FORMER RAMS BLAST TEAMS TO WEEKEND VICTORIES WITH GAME-WINNING HOMERS
Video of Inge's home run

RICHMOND, Va. – You know what they say about the long ball.

As we learned from the late 1990’s series of Nike commercials, “chicks dig it.”

Former Virginia Commonwealth University baseball standouts Brandon Inge and Scott Sizemore paid tribute to the slogan on Sunday as the duo led their teams to victory with game-winning home runs.

With two on and two out in the sixth inning of Detroit’s 3-2 win over Milwaukee, Inge lifted a hanging breaking ball over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 3-1 advantage.  The blast was his 16th homer of the year, six shy of Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena’s American League-leading 22.

"I was trying to stick to a plan all day, and I really didn't see very many [breaking balls]," Inge told MLB.com’s Jason Beck following Sunday’s game.  "The ones that start up, you kind of recognize a little earlier. [Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo] threw it where I could see it. I'm sure he didn't want to throw it there. He pitched well, he really did. I was impressed with him."

Meanwhile, Sizemore, who was promoted to Detroit’s Triple-A affiliate Toledo last Monday, hit his first homer for the Mud Hens with a two out, two run shot in the 11th inning to give the club a 3-1 victory against Rochester. He also hit a leadoff triple in fifth on his way to a 3-for-6 outing at the plate.

In just five games with Toledo, Sizemore is hitting .368 (7-for-19) including a double, triple, home run, three RBI, three runs, a pair of walks and a .429 on-base percentage.

Since beginning the season in Double-A Erie, Sizemore has hit a career-best 10 home runs, while posting a .311 batting average.