The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, squeaked by the Rochester Red Wings, 2-1, on Friday night behind a stellar performance from right-hander Yunesky Maya. Syracuse's starter retired the first 20 batters he faced and threw eight innings of one-hit, one-run ball as the Chiefs won their third of four games in the series.
Syracuse (50-56) got on the board first with a fourth-inning, two-out rally. Carlos Rivero began it with a four-pitch walk against Rochester starter Jeff Manship, before Carlos Maldonado singled Rivero to second base. Second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir then lined a 3-2 pitch into right field for a single, scoring Rivero to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.
The Chiefs returned to the scoring column in the fifth. Center fielder Eury Perez doubled to lead off the frame for his second hit of the game. Perez has now hit in all seven of his games with Syracuse. Two batters later, third baseman Chad Tracy scorched a single to center field to score Perez. Tracy, who's with the Chiefs on major league rehab, extended the lead to 2-0.
Meanwhile, Maya was cutting down Red Wing batters left and right. He tossed six and two-thirds innings of perfect ball and only went to a three-ball count twice. But in the seventh inning, Rochester (52-55) finally struck. With two outs, first baseman Chris Parmelee launched a fly ball to deep right field that snuck just over the leaping try of right fielder Brett Carroll and hit off the very top of the outfield wall for a solo home run. The long ball ended the perfect game, no-hit and shutout bids, and it cut the Syracuse lead to 2-1.
Maya would recover to strike out Wilkin Ramirez on three pitches to end the inning before tossing a 1-2-3 eighth frame. The Cuban right-hander finished with just the one hit and one run allowed in eight innings, walking none and striking out five. 70 of his 95 pitches in the game were strikes.
Syracuse closer Christian Garcia then relieved Maya in the ninth inning and tossed a perfect frame. Garcia's now converted all five of his save chances with the Chiefs this season.
The Chiefs next head home to start a five-game, four-day series with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Saturday night at 7:00. Syracuse will send right-hander Jeff Mandel to the mound against Lehigh Valley righty Tyson Brummett.
**Courtesy Syracuse Chiefs**
