Canzler's Late Homer Beats Syracuse
Russ Canzler hit a solo home run with two outs in the 10th inning and the Norfolk Tides defeated the Syracuse Chiefs, 8-7, Monday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse.
Norfolk scored first as Brandon Wood collected his first RBI as a member of the Tides with a second inning single to score Travis Ishikawa off Syracuse starter Daniel Rosenbaum.
It didn't take long for Norfolk to extend the lead in the third as the Tides used a pair of singles, a big Chiefs error and a wild pitch to push the lead to 4-0.
Jair Jurrjens was looking for his fifth straight win and retired the first seven batters of the game before Mike Costanzo's solo home run in the third.
After a scoreless fourth for Norfolk, Syracuse took the lead with four runs in the bottom half of the frame, highlighted by a two-run double by Carlos Rivero, and the Chiefs led 5-4 after four innings.
The Tides responded in the top of the fifth as RBI singles by Trayvon Robinson, Luis Exposito and Jason Pridie pushed the Norfolk lead to 7-5. Rosenbaum departed after Pridie's single and finished his day by allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Jurrjens would settle down and retire the final nine batters he faced and his day ended after completing 7.0 innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and didn't issue a walk.
Alex Burnett entered to begin the eighth inning but retired just one batte, allowing a run, and left in favor of Manny Delcarmen with two runners aboard. Delcarmen stranded both Syracuse runners to end the inning and has now stranded all 14 runners he has inherited this season.
Jairo Asencio (1-0), who entered Monday tied for third in the league in saves, retired the first batter of the inning before Jeff Howell's solo home run tied the score at eight after nine innings.
For the second time in the game, Norfolk responded the next half inning to take the lead as Canzler would connect off Erik Davis (0-1) for an opposite field home run to seal another series win for the Tides. The Chiefs would get the tying run to third base after a leadoff double by Will Rhymes in the bottom of the 10th, but Asencio was able to get Rivero to ground out to third base and after Zach Walters was hit by a pitch, Micah Owings struck out to end the game.
The Tides improved to 11-0 in series finales this season and have now five straight series with the win. Norfolk also improved to a league-best 11-3 in one-run games and 21-0 when leading after eight innings.
Ishikawa led the Tides attack, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. He has now hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games, batting .441 (26-for-59) with three home runs, seven doubles and 19 RBI over that stretch. Every Norfolk batter had at least one hit and three players scored two runs.
Norfolk returns home after a 6-2 road trip with a Tuesday night game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Fans can enjoy $0.50 hot dogs, soft drinks and popcorn on Turn Back the Clock Night courtesy of Smithfield. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. as Zach Britton (1-1, 3.38) takes the mound for the Tides.