Wang, Chiefs drop second straight to Yankees
The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, fell 7-2 to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees on Sunday afternoon from PNC Field. In his second rehab start, right-hander Chien-Ming Wang allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings. Gustavo Molina's three-run home run in the second inning put the Yankees ahead for good as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won its second straight game in this four-game series.
Syracuse (44-56) put four runners on base against Andrew Brackman in the first inning but scored just one run. Steve Lombardozzi led off with a walk, but was subsequently thrown out trying to steal second base. Brian Bixler then walked and Michael Aubrey singled to put two runners on, before Chris Marrero popped up. Jesus Valdez then laced a double down the left field line to score Bixler, but Aubrey was thrown out trying to score.
The Yankees (53-47) pounced on Wang in the second inning. With one out, Jordan Parraz singled and Austin Krum walked. Molina then stepped up and launched a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall, giving Scranton/Wilkes-Barre a 3-1 lead. The home run was the second allowed by Wang in his two starts with the Chiefs.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre would strike again in the middle innings against Wang. In the fourth inning, Luis Nunez doubled in Krum with two outs. In the fifth, a Parraz sacrifice fly scored Jesus Montero. Wang's day was complete after the fifth inning. He threw 96 pitches, walking one and striking out five.
The Chiefs would score once in the seventh inning when Tug Hulett homered to left field off of rehabbing major leaguer Rafael Soriano, cutting the lead to 5-2. But Scranton/Wilkes-Barre plated two in the bottom of the seventh. Montero's RBI double and Parraz's RBI triple gave the Yankees a 7-2 lead against reliever J.D. Martin.
Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre conclude their series tomorrow at 7:05. Chiefs right-hander Yunesky Maya and Yankees righty Adam Warren will face off in the starting pitching matchup.