Gregorio Petit delivers go-ahead two-run single in the 5th.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings (Plates) defended the Golden Fork with a 3-1 win over the Syracuse Chiefs (Salt Potatoes) in the Duel of the Dishes Saturday night before 6,221 fans at NBT Bank Stadium.
The Plates won the first meeting between the two delicacies, 2-1, in 10 innings on June 21.
Rochester (59-71) found themselves behind 1-0 after four innings but mounted their rally in the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases empty, the Plates went walk, single and hit by pitch to load the bases. Nick Gordon walked to bring home the tying run and Gregorio Petit followed with a two-run, go-ahead single to put the Plates in front, 3-1.
In a bullpen game, Ryan Eades made the start for the Plates and tossed three scoreless innings allowing three hits and no walks while striking out four.
Luke Bard took over in the fourth and allowed a solo home run to Jose Marmolejos on the first pitch of the inning. Bard (2-3) scattered 6 hits over 3 innings but allowed just the 1 run to earn the victory.
DJ Baxendale chipped in 1.2 scoreless innings of work, before giving way to John Curtiss who got the final out of the eighth inning and locked up the win in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season.
The Plates won despite being out-hit, 10-6.
With the victory, Rochester leads the season series, 10-8.
Game 3 of the 4-game series is Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm. Southpaw Lewis Thorpe will make the start for the Wings.
*NOTES — Rochester has used a franchise-record 36 different position players this year. The Red Wings had 38 players register a plate appearance in 1960 and 1945, 37 in 1968 and 1946 and 36 in 1959 but those totals include pitchers who received at least one plate appearance. Andrew Vasquez became the 66th player to appear in a game this season, tying the franchise record set last year…Entering tonight’s game, the Red Wings lead the International League with a 3.46 ERA. Pawtucket is second at 3.48. A Rochester team has not led the IL in ERA since the 1976 squad posted a 3.51 mark…The Red Wings are 6-11 in extra innings this season and have just one win in their last 10 games in extra frames. The 17 games in extras are the most since 2009 (7-10) and the 11 losses are the most since the 2001 club went 12-11 in extras.