IL1 Syracuse Mets

Marrero Leads Chiefs to Doubleheader Split

Published on April 20, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, split a doubleheader with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Saturday. The Chiefs' seventh-inning rally fell short in game one in a 5-3 loss, before Syracuse rebounded for a 4-3 second-game win. First baseman Chris Marrero slammed two home runs in the victory.

In the first game, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (6-8) jumped on Chiefs starter Yunesky Maya right away with a three-run first inning. Second baseman Corban Joseph started the frame with a solo home run as the RailRiders' leadoff hitter. After a pair of outs and a Dan Johnson walk, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre then strung together three straight singles, with Thomas Neal and Bobby Wilson each driving in a run.

The RailRiders added single runs against Maya in the third inning - on a Neal RBI single - and in the sixth inning - on a Wilson homer. Maya would end up tossing a complete game, striking out five in six innings, while dropping to 0-2.

Syracuse (7-8) would finally retaliate in the seventh inning, after being shut out for the first six innings by right-handers Chien-Ming Wang (five and one-third innings) and Preston Claiborne. Zach Walters lead off the inning by reaching on an error by Joseph, before Carlos Rivero and Jerad Head lined back-to-back singles. Two batters later, second baseman Will Rhymes punched a single to left field, scoring Walters for the Chiefs' first run. Center fielder Jeff Kobernus then followed with a two-run single to left, cutting the RailRiders' lead to 5-3. But Claiborne escaped the jam when Mike Costanzo's sinking line drive to center field was caught by Melky Mesa, who subsequently doubled Rhymes off at second base to end the game.

In game two of the twin bill, the teams exchanged runs for the first five half-innings. Syracuse got started thanks to Marrero, who clobbered a 3-2 fastball from Brett Marshall up onto the concourse in left field for a two-run home run. That first-inning shot scored Rhymes and put the Chiefs on the board.

After the RailRiders' first-inning answer - a bases-loaded walk by Austin Romine against Ryan Perry - Syracuse grabbed a second-inning run thanks to the bottom of the order. Eighth-place hitter Rivero started the frame with an infield single to third base on an 0-2 pitch. Catcher Jeff Howell then followed by putting another 0-2 pitch in play, blasting off for an RBI double to straightaway center field. That gave Syracuse a 3-1 lead.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's answer came once again in the form of a Joseph long ball. The second baseman launched a two-out Perry pitch over the right-field wall in the second inning, slicing the Chiefs' lead to 3-2. Joseph's now collected 11 hits against Syracuse since 2012, with five of the 11 as home runs.

The Chiefs returned the favor in the third inning, thanks once again to Marrero. The first baseman slugged a 1-0 Marshall pitch down the left-field line and into the bullpen for his second home run of the evening and fifth homer of the season. That swing put Syracuse ahead by two runs.

Perry would allow an unearned run in the fourth inning for the game's final tally when Neal scored from second base on a throwing error by third baseman Jimmy Van Ostrand.

The Chiefs' bullpen, however, closed out the game's final three and one-third innings without allowing a hit. Left-hander Fernando Abad worked two-thirds of an inning, before Mike Crotta pitched a perfect inning and two-thirds. Right-hander Erik Davis then closed out the game with a scoreless inning for the first Syracuse save of 2013.

Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will turn around quickly for a 1:05 Sunday game. Chiefs left-hander Danny Rosenbaum and RailRiders southpaw Vidal Nuno are the scheduled starters.

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International League Stories from April 20, 2013


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