The Syracuse Chiefs rally to beat Rochester, 6-3.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Chiefs scored the final 5 runs Monday to steal the final road game of the season from the Red Wings, 6-3, before a crowd of 3,743 fans at NBT Bank Stadium.
With the victory, the Chiefs win the series and send Rochester to a 35-35 road record for the 2018 season.
The Red Wings grabbed the early lead with a 2-spot in the second inning. Kennys Vargas doubled to lead off the frame and was knocked in on a LaMonte Wade RBI single. Wade came around to score two batters later on a Juan Graterol double to right.
The Chiefs cut the Wings lead in half on an RBI double from Matt Reynolds in the third inning.
Rochester grabbed that run back in the fifth inning when a Johnny Field fly ball to center was lost in the lights by the Syracuse centerfielder, allowing Byron Buxton to score from third.
But back came the Chiefs in the sixth has they strung together 4 singles and walk off Fernando Romero and Ryne Harper to plate 3 runs and take their first lead of the game.
Romero went 5.2 innings allowing 3 runs on 8 hits. He didn’t walk a batter while striking out 5 over his 83-pitch outing.
The Chiefs added 2 insurance runs in the eighth off Harper.
Buxton was the lone Wing with multiple hits Monday as he went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
The Wings head home to open their final homestand of the season on Tuesday – an 8-game, 7-day stand that includes 7 giveaways, 3 fireworks shows, Salute to “The Sandlot” Night and Fan Appreciation Day.
*NOTES — Rochester finished 35-35 on the road this season, one of three International League teams with at least 35 road victories (Lehigh Valley and Durham, 36). However, the Wings dropped 11 of 16 and 15 of 22 away from Frontier Field to end the road season. The Red Wings will finish this season under .500 at home for the first time since 2011…The Red Wings lead the International League with a 3.42 ERA. Pawtucket is second at 3.47. A Rochester team has not led the IL in ERA since the 1976 squad posted a 3.51 mark…Rochester is last in the International League with 451 runs and 3.44 runs per game. The Red Wings are on pace to score 481 runs which would be the lowest run total and runs per game average by a Rochester team since at least 1979.