Wings rout Chiefs in Syracuse

Beresford had seven career four-hit games entering Saturday before finishing 5-for-6. He tallied a hit in each of the first two innings and three in the first four frames. The Aussie flied out in the sixth before adding singles in the seventh and ninth innings. Beresford is the fifth player in the International League to accomplish the feat this season and first since Columbus’ Adam Moore had five hits on June 7 vs. Indianapolis.

Jorge Polanco, Daniel Palka and Byungho Park each had three hits while Darin Mastroianni, Wilfredo Tovar and Carlos Paulino recorded two hits apiece. All nine Red Wings (60-42) had at least one hit by the fifth inning.

Rochester struck early against Chiefs (46-54) starter Paolo Espino (6-9). Beresford stood at first base with two outs after his first hit with one out in the opening inning. Palka doubled down the right field line to score Beresford to open the scoring. Adam Brett Walker hit the next pitch up the middle for an RBI single and promptly stole second on the first pitch to Park. The next pitch by Espino was deposited the opposite way by Park for a two-run homer and in a span of four pitches Rochester led 4-0.

Red Wings starter Jason Wheeler (7-2) set Syracuse down in order in the bottom half before the Wings added two more in the second on a two-run double from Polanco. Despite the hit parade, Rochester didn’t score again until the seventh inning on a Mastroianni RBI single. The Wings tacked on four in the ninth as Polanco drove in a run with a single, Palka added his second double to drive in two more and Walker hit a sacrifice fly.

In all, Rochester had four hits in four different half innings and two in two others. The only inning in which the Red Wings didn’t record at least one hit was the eighth inning.

Wheeler, who had not received much run support this season with Rochester entering Saturday’s start, held the Chiefs to just four hits and a walk with six strikeouts over 6.2 innings to earn his seventh win. Neil Ramirez made his Wings debut with 1.1 scoreless frames and Marcus Walden worked a scoreless ninth. Syracuse had seven hits in the game but all were singles.

Rochester finished 9-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

NOTES:

• The 22 hits for the Wings are the most in a nine-inning game since August 30, 2004 when the club had 25 hits vs. Pawtucket.
• Saturday is the widest margin of victory for Rochester in a shutout since an 11-0 win at Gwinnett on June 7, 2013.
• James Beresford is the first Wing with five hits in a game since Wilkin Ramirez on July 1, 2014 vs. Norfolk.