Two Grand Slams Sink Red Wings Against Chiefs

The Rochester Red Wings lost the series opener to the Syracuse Chiefs 10-5 Wednesday evening. The Chiefs scored all of their runs with the bases loaded, including two grand slams. Darin Mastroianni went 3-for-4 with one walk, two RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases in the Wings loss. The teams will play an 11:35 a.m. doubleheader with two seven-inning games on Thursday.

The Red Wings jumped on struggling starting pitcher John Lannan for a pair of first inning runs. Mastroianni, Brian Dozier and Matt Carson each tallied singles, and Lannan walked Aaron Bates with the bases loaded for the first Rochester run. The second run scored when Joe Benson hit into a double play.

Rochester added three more hits off Lannan in the second inning, with Mastroianni's second hit of the game driving in a run to make it 3-0 Wings. Mastroianni then came up in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and Drew Butera on first. After Butera advanced to second on a passed ball, Mastroianni hit his third hit in three attempts to score Butera and give the Wings a much needed extra run.

The 4-0 lead did not last long, however, as two walks and a single loaded the bases for the Chiefs in the top of the fifth. Batting against Wings starter Daryl Thompson, Mark Teahen hit a grand slam into the Red Wings bullpen in right field to tie the game at 4-all.

Mastroianni led of the bottom of the seventh by drawing a walk, putting on base for the fourth time in four plate appearences. As Matt Carson struck out swinging, Mastroianni stole second base to put himself in scoring position. With Aaron Bates batting, Mastroianni then stole third outright before scoring on a wild pitch by Chiefs' starter John Lannan to give the Wings the 5-4 edge.

But once again, that lead would not last. Tyler Robertson came in in relief for the Wings and was unable to get an out, facing five batters. A walk, single, and error once again loaded the bases for the Chiefs, this time with Jason Michaels coming through with a grandslam to left-center field, giving Syracuse an 8-5 lead. After allowing a single following the slam, Robertson was relieved by Brandan Wise. Wise got an immediate double play, but then allowed the next four batters to reach base and two to cross the plate before getting the final out of the 6-run Syracuse inning.