Red Wings clip Chiefs in series finale

Rochester, NY (April 26, 2015) - The Syracuse Chiefs, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, dropped the series finale to the Rochester Red Wings, 6-4, Sunday afternoon at Frontier Field. Syracuse put up three runs in the ninth inning, but Michael Tonkin came out of the bullpen to get the final out and his fifth save. 

Rochester (9-7) started the third with a walk from Chiefs starter Taylor Jordan to Aaron Hicks. Two batters later, with Hicks on second base after a stolen base, Josmil Pinto singled in Hicks to give the Red Wings their third 1-0 lead of the series. Jordan then walked Reynaldo Rodriguez and allowed a single to Brock Peterson. After a force out at the plate, Jose Martinez singled in two more runs, ending Jordan's day. Richard Bleier came out of the bullpen, and allowed a double to James Beresford, which brought home the fourth run of the inning.

Syracuse (6-11) got one run back in the top of the fourth. Tony Gwynn, Jr. singled with one out off Pat Dean. Three batters later, after a strikeout and Mark Minicozzi walk, Kila Ka'aihue singled to centerfield, scoring Gwynn and getting the Chiefs on the board.

Dean was impressive, hurling eight innings of one-run ball. Dean allowed six hits, walked two, and stuck out seven on 101 pitches in the victory. 

Rochester added two to the 4-1 lead in the fourth. Hicks reached on an error on Ian Stewart, followed two batters later by a Pinto single. Bleier then surrendered a triple to Rodriguez which extended the lead to 6-1.

Syracuse mounted a ninth-inning rally off Stephen Pryor. Minicozzi doubled, Ka'aihue walked and Jason Martinson singled to load the bases. Matt den Dekker hit into a 4-6-3 double play, which scored Minicozzi to get the Chiefs within four. Cutter Dykstra then worked the count to 3-2 and launched a two-run shot to left field to make it a 6-4 game. Tonkin came out of the bullpen and got Steve Lerud to strike out for the save.

The Chiefs hit the road and open a four-game series with the defending Governor's Cup Champion Pawtucket Red Sox tomorrow. A.J. Cole is scheduled to start for Syracuse opposite Brian Johnson for Pawtucket. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.