First Time For Everything: Redwings Blanked by Salt Potatoes, 2-0

By Christopher Drummond

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Every streak eventually comes to an end.

For the first time this season, the Rochester Red Wings were held scoreless, falling 2-0 to the Syracuse Salt Potatoes in the second game of a split doubleheader Thursday night. Rochester opened the evening with a convincing 6-1 victory before Syracuse answered with a dominant pitching performance in the nightcap.

Despite the shutout loss, the Red Wings still own a 10-5 record against Syracuse this season and hold a 2-1 advantage in the current six-game series.

Rochester's offense was firing in the opener behind another productive performance from Christian Franklin, who collected a hit and drove in two runs. Abimelec Ortiz, Phillip Glasser and Seaver King each recorded two hits as the Red Wings capitalized on timely offense and solid pitching.

King made his long-awaited return after missing several weeks with an oblique injury, but manager Matthew LeCroy removed the infielder in the fourth inning as a precaution. King did not appear in Game 2 and was unavailable for comment while receiving treatment.

On the mound, Chandler Champlain delivered an impressive relief outing, keeping Syracuse off the scoreboard while helping secure Rochester's 6-1 victory. After the game, Champlain credited the team's complete effort and discussed the adjustment from starting to pitching in relief.

"I thought it was a good night all around," Champlain said. "Riley Adams called a good game. Defense played really well and I executed the pitches, so we did very good. My mindset is that I have a job to do, and that is to put up zeros. They're definitely a different feeling when you start as opposed to coming in off the bench, both good and bad. However, for tonight, I tried to treat it like a start and I warmed up that way."

Syracuse struggled offensively in the opener despite leaving nine runners on base. The Salt Potatoes managed just four hits, with Mike Tauchman accounting for three of them.

The nightcap, however, belonged to Syracuse.

The Red Wings managed only three hits—one each from Trey Lipscomb, Ortiz and Adams—as Syracuse's pitching staff silenced Rochester's lineup for the first shutout against the club this season.

The Salt Potatoes scored both of their runs in the second inning, and that proved to be all the offense they would need. Christian Arroyo supplied the biggest blow with his eighth home run of the season, while Syracuse's pitching made the early lead stand.

LeCroy acknowledged the difficulty of sweeping a doubleheader and tipped his cap to Syracuse's performance in Game 2.

"It is hard to sweep a doubleheader," LeCroy said. "If you're able to split, you're doing something. We obviously want to win both games, but it is hard to do. Their pitcher was really good in Game 2, and our bats weren't good enough. Got to tip your hat to him for a job well done."

The two clubs continue their six-game series Friday night at Innovative Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m., with Rochester looking to bounce back while maintaining its series lead.