IL1 Syracuse Mets

Red Wings Sweep Chiefs in Doubleheader

August 26, 2011 - International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


The Rochester Red Wings (50-85) swept a doubleheader against the Syracuse Chiefs (60-71), the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, shutting out the Chiefs 2-0 in the first game and taking a 3-2 win in the nightcap Friday at Alliance Bank Stadium. Syracuse tallied a combined nine hits in the two losses.

Both teams' starters dominated in the first game of the doubleheader. Chiefs righty Yunesky Maya gave up just one hit through the first four innings on a single in the first. But that was quickly erased on a double play in the next at-bat, starting a string of 10 straight Red Wings retired by Maya.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs offense struggled to string hits together against Rochester starter Liam Hendriks. Syracuse's biggest opportunity came in the bottom of the third when Carlos Maldonado led off with a double to deep center field. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat, but Hendriks put down the next two batters to end the inning.

The Red Wings finally broke the scoreless tie in the fifth. Jeff Bailey started the frame with a single to left. After Brian Dinkelman struck out in the next at-bat, the Chiefs nearly ended the inning with a double play. Maya struck out Chase Lambin as BaIiley took off for second. The throw was in time, but Bailey avoided the tag and slid in safely. Aaron Bates then stepped to the plate and crushed the decisive home run over the left field wall for a 2-0 lead.

Syracuse mustered just one hit the rest of the way and suffered the loss despite a complete game from Maya. He gave up just three hits, walked one and struck out five in the seven-inning affair.

In game two, the Chiefs didn't waste any time touching up Rochester starter Tom Stuifbergen for a couple runs in his first Triple-A start. Roger Bernadina reached second when Red Wings left fielder Martin dropped his fly ball near the warning track. Tug Hulett then stepped up and blasted a home run over the right field wall to put Syracuse up 2-0.

But Rochester stormed back in the third. After a leadoff double by Jair Fernandez, Chiefs starter J.D. Martin hit Brandon Roberts with a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Both advanced on Ray Chang's fly out to center before the Red Wings caught a break. Dustin Martin ripped a grounder down the first base line that took a strange hop over first baseman Jeff Frazier and brought home both runs.

That single knotted the game at 2-2 but Rochester wasn't done yet. Bailey knocked a single up the middle that, with a hit-and-run on, moved Dustin Martin to third. Dinkelman then put the Red Wings in front with an RBI single to left before the rally came to an end.

From there, the Red Wings' pitching stifled the Chiefs. After Hulett's homer in the first, Syracuse didn't move a base runner past first until the bottom of the seventh. In their last chance to rally for the win, Corey Brown and Steve Lombardozzi both drew two-out walks off Rochester reliever Chuck James. But James struck out Bernadina in the next at-bat to secure the sweep.

Syracuse and Rochester will battle again Saturday at 7:00 at Alliance Bank Stadium. Stephen Strasburg will make a Major League rehab start for the Chiefs against Red Wings righty Andy Baldwin.

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