Martinson's homer leads Chiefs to split

Syracuse, NY (April 21, 2015) - The Syracuse Chiefs, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, split a doubleheader with the Rochester Red Wings at NBT Bank Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Syracuse won 1-0 in the first game, but fell 2-0 to the Red Wings in game two. Jason Martinson hit a first-pitch walkoff home run in the bottom of the seventh to give Syracuse the one-run victory in game one.

Martinson had struck out twice before stepping up to the batter's box in the bottom of the seventh. However, both of those at-bats came against starter Alex Meyer. With a new pitcher on the mound, Martinson wasted no time and cracked a home run deep over the left-center field fence on the first pitch he saw from A.J. Achter. Syracuse (5-8) only recorded three hits in the game, but that would be all that they would need to take the 1-0 victory in game one.

Game one turned out to be a pitchers' duel, as each starter hurled six scoreless innings against opposing hitters. A.J. Cole was pulled after the sixth inning for the Chiefs after a very impressive outing. The right-hander only surrendered five hits and stuck out three in his third start of the season. Cole lowered his season ERA to 2.40 after the six shutout innings.

Alex Meyer, on the other hand, was just as masterful in his third start on the young season. Meyer had struggled in his first two appearances but, just like his counterpart Cole, delivered six scoreless. Meyer gave up only two hits, walked three and struck out 11 Chiefs on the afternoon.

Michael Taylor had a tremendous return to Syracuse. In his first game with the Chiefs since last season, the 24-year old center fielder was 2 for 2 at the plate with a walk and a stolen base. He continued his impressive start in the field as well with a stellar diving catch in right-center field to save a hit.

In game two of the doubleheader, Rochester (6-6) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and would hold on to shut out the Chiefs. Syracuse starting pitcher Richard Bleier allowed two runs on six hits over four innings pitched to the Red Wings.

The game was a pitchers' duel through the first two innings, as neither Bleier nor Red Wings starter Taylor Rogers allowed a run. In the top of the third, Bleier allowed a leadoff double down the left-field line to Rochester second baseman Doug Bernier. In the very next at-bat, shortstop Argenis Diaz singled Bernier home. Diaz advanced to third on a single by center fielder Aaron Hicks, while there were still no outs. After picking off Hicks at first and getting left fielder Eric Farris to pop out to second, Bleier gave up an RBI single to right fielder Eddie Rosario for the Red Wings' second and final run of the game.

Rogers was nearly perfect during his six innings of work. The left-hander shut out the Chiefs and only allowed four hits, only one of which was an extra-base hit by Syracuse second baseman Josh Johnson. Designated hitter Taylor was the only Chiefs player to advance to third. After walking with one out in the bottom of the third, Taylor advanced to second on a balk and then stole third, but was unable to score as Rogers struck the next two batters out. Rogers had six strikeouts and the Red Wings had seven total after right fielder Jason Martinson struck out looking in the bottom of the seventh to Michael Tonkin.

The Chiefs and Red Wings split the double header on Tuesday afternoon, each shutting out the opponent in the win. The Chiefs took the first game on a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the seventh by Jason Martinson to win 1-0. The Redwings win game two after scoring two runs in the top of the third off Syracuse starter Richard Bleier.

Syracuse and Rochester play the third of a four-game series Wednesday afternoon at 1:05. Chiefs right-hander Taylor Hill is scheduled to start against Red Wings left-hander Jason Wheeler.