Rochester rallies to tie the game in the sixth, but falls in extra innings.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Chiefs walked off in 10 innings with a 4-3 win against the Rochester Red Wings on Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Hunter Jones hit an RBI double over the head of Nick Buss in center field to win the game. The victory marks the second walk-off win for Syracuse this season and the fourth extra-inning win for the Chiefs.
Syracuse (12-7) started the bottom of the tenth inning with Bengie Gonzalez at second base. Rochester intentionally walked Jacob Wilson to put runners at first and second with no outs. Michael Almanzar then laid down a bunt that resulted in a fielder’s choice where Gonzalez was out at third, Wilson moved to second, and Almanzar was safe at first. Jones followed by crushing double to the center-field wall, which scored Wilson from second and gave Syracuse the 4-3 win.
The Chiefs jumped on the board in the bottom of the first. Matt Reynolds and Matt Hague both walked during the frame to put runners on first and second base with two outs. Alejandro De Aza then singled to right-center field, scoring Reynolds for a 1-0 Syracuse lead.
Syracuse added a run in the third. With one out, Reynolds doubled. Two batters later, Hague singled to center field to bring home Reynolds and give the Chiefs a 2-0 advantage.
Rochester (7-10) tied the game in the top of the fifth. Brock Stassi led off with a double. Willians Astudillo followed with a triple to the center-field wall that scored Stassi and trimmed the Syracuse lead to one, 2-1. Taylor Featherston then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Astudillo to knot the game, 2-2.
The Chiefs responded in the bottom of the fifth with one swing of the bat. Reynolds lined a pitch over the right-field wall to put the Chiefs back in front, 3-2.
The Red Wings knotted the game again in the sixth. With one out, Leonardo Reginatto singled, Jake Cave singled, and Kennys Vargas walked to load the bases. Stassi then grounded into a fielder’s choice where Vargas was thrown out at second, but everyone else was safe, including Reginatto who scored from third to tie the game, 3-3, eventually sending the game to extra innings.
Syracuse and Rochester continue the three-game series on Saturday. RHP César Vargas will take the mound for the Chiefs while RHP Aaron Slegers will throw for the Red Wings. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
*NOTES — In roster moves, RHP Alan Busenitz was activated after being optioned from Minnesota on April 24, LHP Adalberto Mejía was placed on the disabled list with a blister on his left middle finger, and LHP Stephen Gonsalves was transferred from Double-A Chattanooga…The Red Wings lead the International League with 76 walks and are tied for the lead with 11 hit-by-pitches. Rochester is 10th in on-base percentage despite a league-low .210 batting average…Casey Crosby registered the first professional save of his career in game two Monday after throwing a scoreless 7th inning in game two. The appearance marked his first in affiliated ball since May 17, 2014 for Toledo at Rochester.