Rochester picks up a half game on Lehigh Valley in the wild card chase.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings split a double header with the Syracuse Chiefs on Friday night, losing the first game, 2-1, then taking the nightcap, 3-2.
Rochester (63-48) trails Lehigh Valley (67-44) by 4 games in the race for the wild card spot in the upcoming Governor’s Cup playoffs. Both teams have 30 games remaining in the regular season.
In Game 1, the Chiefs scored 2 runs in the second inning and made it stand up for a 2-1 victory. Clint Robinson belted a solo home run off Dietrich Enns, and Michael Almanzar added an RBI single, which proved to be the game-winning run.
Rochester cut the deficit in half in the fifth inning when Niko Goodrum scored on a double play. The Red Wings missed an opportunity to tie or go ahead in the sixth when Tommy Field struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
In Game 2, the Red Wings took the lead in the fourth when ByungHo Park ripped a one-out single and Mitch Garver followed with a double. Both runners scored on a single by Leonardo Reginatto.
The Chiefs got one run back in the home half, then after a rain delay, scored the tying run in the bottom of the sixth.
Rochester scored the game-winner in the top of the seventh. Garver singled and Reginatto doubled. Pinch-hitter Niko Goodrum drew a walk to load the bases. J.B. Shuck then also walked to force home Garver.
In the bottom of the frame, relief pitcher Jake Reed struck out former Red Wing Bernie Gonzalez, with the tying run on second, to end the game.
The series continues Saturday night at 7:05 pm.