Red Wings steamroll Syracuse, 14-3

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Red Wings have introduced a new tradition to Innovative Field. Perhaps in tribute to the success of Rochesterians in hockey, every home run is now heralded by the blast of a horn, as if a goal has just been scored. They’d meant to introduce it on Tuesday, as the Wings began their series with the Syracuse Mets… but didn’t get the opportunity due to a pitching-dominated 2-1 loss.

But on Wednesday, that wasn’t a problem, as the Red Wings (44-69, 17-24 in the second half) sent the ball over the fence three times as part of a 14-3 victory, including two in the fourth from Andres Chaparro and Jackson Cluff, respectively, to first tie and then jump ahead of the Mets (61-55, 30-11 in the second half). The Wings followed up the three-run third with a four-run fifth, a one-run sixth, and then a six-run seventh to put the game away for good and force Syracuse to start using a position player.

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“Man, they came alive,” said Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy of his team. “The offense was the story of this one, scoring 14 runs on 13 hits.”

Despite the eventual offensive blowout, the Red Wings trailed early on due to an RBI single by Luisangel Acuna in the top of the third. With two outs in the fourth, however, the Wings made their move, with Andres Chaparro smacking a 1-2 pitch left-center for a game-tying solo home run against Syracuse’s Justin Garza, who was one of six Mets to pitch on a “bullpen day.” Andrew Pinckney followed up Chaparro’s homer with an infield single, and then up came Jackson Cluff.

Cluff, who had struck out earlier in the game and who hasn’t seen regular playing time as he’s moved into a more utility role, made the most if it on Wednesday, jumping on the first pitch he saw from Garza and lining it over the right field wall for a two-run homer that gave the Wings their first lead of the day, 3-1.

“Today, I struck out in my first at-bat, but then the next guy came in and I was seeing him a lot better and made some adjustments,” he said post-game.

It was part of a 2-for-4, three-RBI day for the BYU alumnus, who also singled in a run in the fifth and drew a walk later in the game.

“He’s, in my mind, and I’ve pushed the people that need to hear it- someone I think can help in the big leagues in a utility role,” said LeCroy. “He’s bit his tongue a few times when he probably deserved to play and didn’t get an opportunity, but when he does, he’s made the most of it.”

“The game is just about trying to make the most of your opportunities,” said Cluff.

The game escalated with 11 runs over the following four innings, but the Red Wings also got a good day on the mound from 25-year-old righty Riley Cornelio. The pitcher, making his second AAA start, reached the seventh inning while allowing four hits and three earned runs. Two of the runs, including a home run by No. 2 Mets prospect Jett Williams, came in the seventh, before he was replaced on the mound by Joan Adon. The former TCU Horned Frog, making a start against a team of Mets that featured several players he’d faced in the AA Eastern League just a few weeks ago, utilized a pitch-to-contact style that relied upon his defense to do its job, which it largely did.

“I just tried to execute pitches to best of my ability and let the defense work,” he said post-game. “They were awesome, I couldn’t be more excited when the ball was put in play, to be honest with you, aside from the home run. Other than that, those guys played their butts off. Anytime you’re getting ahead and making them put balls in play, you feel good about this defense.”

“I was really proud of Riley, he did a really nice job out there,” said LeCroy. “He had a dominant fastball, and his changeup today was really good.”

Offensively, left fielder Christian Franklin went 3-for-5 with three RBI, while right fielder Nick Schnell went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs driven in, and two runs scored. Shortstop Nasim Nunez also had a two-hit day, doubling and driving in two. Catcher C.J. Stubbs had an RBI and scored twice despite going 0-for-1 at the plate: he was hit by a pitch three times, the first Red Wing since at least 2004 to take one for the team so many times in one day. The third beanball was somewhat humorous, as it came off a 36 MPH eephus pitch from Luke Ritter, who is normally a position player.

Rehabbing outfielder Dylan Crews went 0-2 as a designated hitter for the Wings before being pulled for a pinch-hitter in the fifth. While not yet officially announced, several reports among Washington beat writers indicate that the former top prospect will return to the Nationals on Thursday, ending his rehab assignment as he worked his way back from an oblique injury. LeCroy said that he was expecting a call from the higher-ups in DC.

Regardless of where Crews is, the series continues on Thursday at 6:45 p.m. Rochester expects to send out lefty Andrew Alvarez (1-7, 4.19) against Syracuse righty Brandon Sproat (7-5, 4.10).