IL1 Syracuse Mets

Marrero Lifts Chiefs to 11-Inning Win

Published on May 23, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, edged the Columbus Clippers, 8-7, in 11 innings on Thursday night. First baseman Chris Marrero's two-run single gave the Chiefs an 11th-inning lead after Columbus had tied the game in the ninth. Designated hitter Micah Owings slammed two home runs in the win.

Syracuse (19-27) set the stage for Marrero in the 11th when it started the inning with three consecutive base runners against Clippers left-hander Nick Hagadone. Brian Jeroloman led off the frame with a walk before Chris Rahl, attempting to sacrifice, reached on a bunt single. Eury Perez then fouled off a pair of bunt attempts before grounding an 0-2 pitch into left field for a single, loading the bases. After a pair of strikeouts by Hagadone, Marrero worked the count to 3-2 before drilling a ground ball into center field, plating Jeroloman and Rahl for the eventual game-winning runs.

Columbus (28-19) threatened immediately in the bottom of the inning, when catcher Omir Santos hit a leadoff home run to left field against Chiefs reliever Xavier Cedeno. The left-hander, however, retired the next three batters to preserve the one-run win.**

The Clippers cracked open the scoring with a first-inning run against Chiefs starter Matt Torra, who made his 2013 debut. Columbus put three straight batters on with two outs, with designated hitter Chun Chen lining a single to left field to score Matt Lawson for the game's first run. Corey Brown, however, threw out Matt LaPorta at the plate on the play to cut down a potential second run.

Owings responded for Syracuse in the second inning. With one out, the Chiefs' designated hitter launched T.J. House's first pitch off the scoreboard in right-center field, tying the score at one.

The Clippers took the lead back in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs. With two runners aboard and no outs, catcher Santos clubbed a double to deep left field, scoring Tim Fedroff for a 2-1 Columbus lead. Two batters later, Lawson's groundout to second base scored Juan Diaz for a third Clippers run.

The Chiefs got a run back in the third inning on another long ball. Rahl led off the inning by swatting a pitch from House over the right-field wall, cutting the Clippers' lead to 3-2. The home run extended Rahl's hitting streak to 15 games, a season-high mark for any Chiefs player.

Owings then blasted off once more for Syracuse in the fifth inning. The Chiefs' rally started with a pair of one-out walks from Jeff Kobernus, who stole second base, and Brown. Marrero followed with a bloop single to right field, loading the bases for Owings, who drove a first pitch from House off of the batter's eye in center field for a grand slam. The home run, Owings' fifth of the season and second of the night, gave Syracuse a 6-3 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Clippers grabbed a pair of runs back against Syracuse reliever Jeff Mandel. After Fedroff started the inning with a walk, Diaz smashed a run-scoring double to left field, cutting the lead to 6-4. Two batters later, Ezequiel Carrera laced a double down the right-field line, scoring Diaz to slice the lead to a run. Mandel, however, recovered by striking out Lawson and Jeremy Hermida to end the inning.

After Tanner Roark tossed a pair of scoreless frames, Erik Davis entered for a save attempt in the ninth inning. Carrera greeted him rudely, driving the first pitch of the inning over the right-center field wall for a game-tying home run. Davis would settle down, retiring the next three hitters to send the game into extra innings.

Syracuse and Columbus will resume their series on Friday night at 7:15. Chiefs left-hander Danny Rosenbaum is scheduled to start against Clippers right-hander Trevor Bauer.

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International League Stories from May 23, 2013


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