Murphy, Wings top 1st place Chiefs
John Ryan Murphy celebrated his birthday with a clutch eighth inning single, helping the Red Wings to a 4-3 win over the Syracuse Chiefs Friday night at Frontier Field. The win moved the Wings to within one game of the first place Chiefs.
The series with Syracuse continues Saturday night at 7:05 p.m., with fireworks after the game. Complete promotions details below....
Left-hander Jason Wheeler was making his first home start, after three effective starts on the road upon his April 27 promotion from Double-A Chattanooga. After Wheeler needed just 9 pitches to set down the Chiefs in the top of the first inning, his teammates provided an early lead.
James Beresford hit a one-out triple off Chiefs starter A.J. Cole; the hit extended Beresford's hitting streak to seven games, and he has now reached base in each of his last 16 games. Max Kepler drilled a run-scoring single to plate Beresford for a 1-0 Wings lead. Kepler's hit pushed his hitting streak to six games. Kennys Vargas singled and Buck Britton flied out, and during Adam Brett Walker's at-bat the Chiefs field staff came out to check on Cole. They returned to the dugout, apparently satisfied, and Cole fanned Walker to end the inning.
Wheeler had another strong inning in the second, setting down the Chiefs in order. He finished the second with his second and third punchouts of the evening.
Byron Buxton extended his hitting streak to six games when he was able to leg out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the third. Kepler followed up Buxton's effort with his second knock of the game, with a line-drive to center, giving the Wings another good scoring opportunity. However, the Wings were unable to add to their lead, and the score remained 1-0 heading into the fourth inning.
Wheeler was again dominant for the Wings in the fourth. It looked like Syracuse would make some noise after a leadoff double from Brian Goodwin, but Wheeler recovered and struck out the next three batters he faced, bringing his total for the game to seven. The Wings weren't making too much contact themselves as Cole struck out the three Wings he faced in order.
The fifth inning started with a beautiful diving catch from Wilfredo Tovar. Wheeler was able to strike out another Syracuse batter in the top of the fifth, this was his eighth of the ball game. In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Stephen Wickens launched a homer into the left field bullpen, his second of the season which increased the Wings' lead to 2-0. Beresford followed that up with a one-out double, his seventh of the season, and the Wings had another chance to add to their lead in the fifth. Vargas laced a single into right field to give the Wings a 3-0 lead.
Syracuse was able to get on the board in the top of the sixth as Trea Turner launched a homer over the center field wall, making the score 3-1 Red Wings. Scott Sizemore blasted the second homer of the inning for Syracuse and brought them to within a run at 3-2. The inning ended in style for the Wings, as Britton raced down a fly ball and made a diving catch to keep the 3-2 lead intact for the Wings.
Syracuse made a pitching change to start the bottom of the sixth, going with Sam Runion. Tovar didn't greet him with a warm welcome, as he drilled a leadoff double off the wall in left center. Cole finished his night throwing 5.0 innings allowing eight hits, three runs, and a walk while striking out seven. Cole threw 102 pitches, 63 for strikes.
Wheeler worked six innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs with one walk and nine strikeouts. Wheeler threw 92 pitches, 61 for strikes.
In the seventh inning against Buddy Boshers, Turner beat out an infield hit and the speedy Tony Campana hustled home from second to slide home with the tying run.
Marcus Walden completed the seventh inning then worked the eighth on the mound for the Wings. Walden (1-0) walked the first two batters he faced in the eighth inning, and a double play groundball and a popout erased the scoring threat.
In the eighth inning against Matt Grace, Tovar reached on a fielder's choice and with two outs, stole second base. Murphy stroked a single to right field, bringing Tovar around from second to slide home with the go-ahead run.
Ryan O'Rourke worked the ninth inning for the Wings, retiring the side with two strikeouts and picking up his first save.
The Red Wings out-hit Syracuse 11-7.
| NOTES: The Red Wings bullpen's scoreless streak of 17.1 innings ended when the Chiefs scored in the seventh inning...INF Heiker Meneses (wrist) was placed on the disabled list Friday.
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5/14 vs. SYR 7:05 pm LHP Logan Darnell (3-3, 4.25) vs. RHP Taylor Hill (1-2, 3.31) WHTK 1280
5.15 vs. SYR 1:35 pm LHP Tommy Milone (1-0, 1.59) vs. RHP Austin Voth (2-1, 2.31) WHTK 1280
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Saturday, May 14- 7:05 pm vs. Syracuse (Nationals)
Post-Game Fireworks: Stick around following the game for a fireworks show courtesy of ESL Federal Credit Union. Jimmy Hart Autographs: WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart will be here signing autographs for $15/item courtesy of CollectorFest Monthly. CollectorFest Monthly Card and Collectibles Show: The annual Card and Collectibles Show in the concourse that day, beginning when the gates open at 6 p.m. The show will feature sports cards and collectibles, plus pro wrestling items.
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Pics of the Day |
2006 - The Syracuse SkyChiefs scored three runs in the fifth inning and defeated the Red Wings 5-2 Saturday afternoon, in a game shortened to six innings by rain in Syracuse.
1988 - Maine and Pawtucket play host to the first interleague games of the new Triple-A Alliance. Ten years before the Major Leagues would adopt the practice, the International League and American Association agree to have each of their clubs play a total of 42 regular season games against members of the opposite league. (Facing the prospect of a difficult and expensive travel schedule, the Pacific Coast League chose not to participate in the Alliance.) The plan is designed to give fans a chance to see Triple-A players from 16 organizations instead of 8. The idea for interleague play becomes reality on May 13, 1988 with a pair of victories for the IL clubs. Pawtucket defeats Oklahoma City 4-2 at McCoy Stadium, while the Maine Guides squeak by Denver 4-3.
1914 - Joe Louis, American world heavyweight boxing champion ... 1950 - Stevie Wonder, American singer/songwriter... 1986 - Robert Pattinson, actor
1989 - Kirby Puckett of the Minnesota Twins tied a major league record with four doubles against the Blue Jays. He became the 35th player to hit four doubles in a game, the first since Toronto's Damaso Garcia in 1986.
1958 - Everly Brothers, "All I Have To Do Is Dream "... 1973 - Stevie Wonder , "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life "... 1987 - U2 , "With or Without You "