After conquering Syracuse (13-16, 51-53) in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader, the Rochester Plates (16-14, 61-42) struggled to replicate their success in a low-scoring second leg, falling in a 2-0 shutout.
In the opening leg, RHP Chandler Champlain picked up his seventh win of the season in a seven-strikeout performance, while 2B-3B Phillip Glasser went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, alongside a two-run performance from SS Seaver King. Three other Wings’ registered hits, while two contributed runs in the triumphant victory. Three hits and no runs were had in game two, however, as Rochester suffered its first shutout loss of the season.
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GAME ONE:
Rochester got their bats hot right away in the bottom of the first, as freshly activated SS Seaver King connected on a double that fell in and out of the glove of a diving outfielder in his first plate appearance since July 1. The Mets airmailed a pitch in the at-bat directly after, allowing King to advance to third and score moments later, when a base hit from CF Christian Franklin quickly turned into a throwing error by the Mets. The success for the Plates continued in the bottom frame, as another wild pitch from the visitors gave way to a run from 2B Phillip Glasser, before Franklin reached home on a ground out to mark a 3-0 advantage for the home squad.
The Plates picked up where they left off in the bottom of the second, as RF Leandro Pineda toured the bases to extend the team’s lead to 4-0. He walked to begin the inning, before a failed pickoff attempt allowed the lefty to move into scoring position at second base. 2B Phillip Glasser then laced a single to right field, before Pineda jogged home on a sacrifice fly from Christian Franklin in foul territory.
After holding the Mets to yet another scoreless inning, the Plates turned back to offense in the bottom of the fourth when Seaver King smoked a ground ball double that hugged the third base line. This set the scene for a single from Phillip Glasser, who delivered a speedy King to home with a single to give the Plates a 5-0 cushion. After Glasser advanced to second on a wild pitch moments later, the team’s lead was widened even further as 1B Abimelec Ortiz launched a powerful double that sailed over the head of a Mets outfielder, scoring Glasser for a 6-0 edge before a strikeout marked the end of the half-inning.
The Mets found long-awaited success of their own in the top of the sixth, as 2B Ji Hwan Bae split the infield gap with an RBI single, scoring DH Mike Tauchman for the team’s first run of the game. The Red Wings defensive staff quickly took precedence, though, as RHP Chandler Champlain closed the game out with his seventh strikeout of the day.
LHP Jared Simpson kicked things off on the hill, allowing just a hit and no runs while tossing a strikeout in the first Triple-A start of his career. After 1.0 innings of work for the 26-year-old, LHP Erik Tolman entered for a brief period in the top of the second and logged a strikeout and walk each. Chandler Champlain took over in the top of the third and remained in until the game’s close, capping off the outing with seven strikeouts alongside just three hits and one run allowed over 3.0 innings.
The Rochester Plates Player of game one is winning pitcher RHP Chandler Champlain, who allowed just three hits and a run while slinging seven strikeouts in five full innings of action. Champlain now boasts two contests in which he’s thrown seven strikeouts this season, while also owning the third-lowest WHIP (1.04) and sixth-lowest ERA (3.93) throughout all of Triple-A baseball.
Find the box score for game one attached HERE.
GAME TWO:
Syracuse, entering game two as the Salt Potatoes, found their footing in no time as 1B Christian Arroyo launched a deep home run in the first pitch of the second inning, handing the visitors their first lead of the day. Their bats continued to stay hot, as DH MJ Melendez contributed a base hit before advancing to second during a ground out. He transitioned to third after a wild pitch from Rochester, before moving home on an RBI single from 2B Ji Hwan Bae to give his squad a 2-0 advantage.
Defense then prevailed for the Salt Potatoes as four innings of scoreless play from the Plates marked the night’s end, as Syracuse claimed the win to split the doubleheader.
LHP Zach Penrod collected his eighth start of the season in game two, giving up two runs on three hits while hurling a strikeout. The bullpen sprung into action after 2.0 innings from Penrod, as RHP Andry Lara took over in the top of the second and contributed a scoreless 3.0 innings with four hits and two strikeouts. RHP Kyle Nicolas was given the nod in the top of the sixth and slung a strikeout while allowing a hit over a brief inning of action, while RHP Robert Cranz was the last Rochester pitcher to see time on the mound, appearing in the top of the seventh and accounting for a strikeout.
The Rochester Plates Player of game two is RHP Andry Lara, who boasted a team-high two strikeouts over a scoreless 3.0 innings of relief in his 21st appearance of the season. Lara has now recorded a trio of scoreless efforts on the season, and holds a 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP) in a pair of Thursday games.
The Red Wings remain as the leader of this week’s series despite the game two loss, currently up 2-1 on the Mets. They will now head into the back half of this week’s series, with game four set for tomorrow at 6:45 p.m. RHP Luis Perales is slated to make his 17th start of the season, squaring off against Syracuse’s RHP Robert Stock on the hill.
Find the box score for game two attached HERE.
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