Chiefs Walk Off Against Rochester

After the rain finally subsided Saturday at Alliance Bank Stadium, fans were treated to a great game between the Rochester Red Wings and the Syracuse Chiefs. It also marked the return of Sergio Santos to face his former team. He didn't wait long to make an impact. In the second inning, he doubled on his first at bat against his former teammates and later scored. That run turned out to be the only Rochester run scored during the scheduled 9 innings. Syracuse starter Kane Davis went six innings, with Brandon League pitching the next three. Rochester's pitching matched the great effort by Davis and League, as starter Danny Graves only allowed one run to score in his four innings. That run occurred on a Chip Cannon single, which brought home Buck Coats from third. Mariano Gomez and Julio DePaula relieved Graves, throwing a combined 3 2/3 innings of perfect ball.

With a 1-1 score, the game went into extra innings, where the Red Wings would strike. Newly recalled reliever, Mike Gallo made his home debut for the Chiefs to start the 10th. He would want to forget this home debut, as he hit his first batter, then allowed a single to put runners on 1st and 3rd. That's when Red Wings catcher Jose Morales gapped a double. The ball was fielded by center fielder Coats who relayed to second baseman Marcos Cabral who threw a perfect strike to catcher Erik Kratz, gunning out the runner (Garrett Jones) at home. With Morales advancing to third on the throw, Jordan DeJong (W, 2-1) came in to relieve Gallo and was able to pitch Syracuse out of the jam, leaving the Chiefs only down a run.

In the bottom of the tenth, Tim Lahey (L, 1-3) continued to pitch for the Red Wings. After retiring Chip Cannon, Lahey allowed Kratz to single. After Eric Nielsen was brought in to run for Kratz, Cabral hit a shot that squirted by Garrett Jones at first, putting runners at the corners with one out. Rochester brought in Carmen Cali to face Wayne Lydon. Lydon won the battle, hitting a beautiful line drive into the gap, which was fielded on a slide by left fielder, Tommy Watkins. Watkins tried to get the ball in quickly, but it was not quick enough as Cabral slid head first into home, beating the relay throw by about 2 seconds, giving Syracuse a 3-2 victory.



That was one of those fun games that definitely makes you happy that you sat through the cold and the rain.

I often wonder what the official scorer at ABS is thinking at times. Garrett Jones was given two errors Saturday night, and I don't think he deserved either of them. The first was on a hit by Wayne Lydon. The pitcher was running to cover first, as Jones fielded the ball, and the ball was throw a bit behind the pitcher. However, Lydon looked to have easily beaten the pitcher to the bag, so regardless, it should have been a hit. The second was the grounder by Cabral in the tenth. Jones dove for the ball and it nicked his glove. I don't think it was an "easy" play to make and it was hit hard enough that I think the single should have been given.

It was weird seeing Santos in a Red Wings uniform, and he almost made Syracuse pay. Early in the game, I said that I figured Santos would finally hit a homer since he was playing the Chiefs. He had the great power in New Hampshire last year, which disappeared when he came to Syracuse, so you just had to think it would happen just to spite us. So, needless to say, it was a very uncomfortable view to watch Santos' long fly ball just turn foul, as he crushed it. I mean, this thing slam was probably only a foot foul. But luckily for Syracuse, it did go foul.

As much as I am happy with the win, I am baffled by Syracuse keeping Cabral in to hit in the 10th. Russ Adams was presumably available, and I would think he is a better option than someone who has hit below .200 overall in the minors this year. But I guess that is why we play the game, and I am happy that it worked out.

It must be that roster spot, since he is replacing Bubba Nelson for the time being, but Mike Gallo looked awful. It felt like Nelson's debut (10th inning against Louisville, he got shelled). The positive is that he was taken out before things got disastrous, which could also help Gallo since he won't have a big loss to think about.

Three Stars:

#3 Jose Morales (ROC) - Morales went 3-5, while coming up huge with the gap shot to give Rochester the lead in the 10th. He also was heads up in taking third base on the throw home. It took perfect relay throws to hold Morales to 1 RBI and clutch pitching to keep him from scoring in the 10th.

#2 Jordan De Jong (SYR) - De Jong came in with an inherited runner on 3rd and only one out in the 10th. With his team already down by one, De Jong was able to get Santos to pop out and Watkins to ground out to end the inning without any more damage. If Rochester gets up by two or more runs, the comeback in the bottom of the inning is much tougher and probably doesn't happen.

#1 Wayne Lydon (SYR) - Lydon has not been the best pressure hitter for Syracuse in his time here. In fact, he has had a fair amount of times where he could help tie a game or win a game in the late innings and has struck out. That being said, there is something about the 2008 version of Lydon that makes you forget about those games. He seems to have a bit of confidence and is getting the ball in play a lot more often. His amazing hit into the gap is enough to give him the star of the game, and if Wayne can keep up the way he has been playing, I am sure there will be many more.


Pending weather, Syracuse and Rochester battle at 2pm in Cooperstown. If the game is rained out, refunds are available. Props given to a good rain check policy for this game.