The bats were hot and the arm was steady as the Rochester Red Wings powered past the Syracuse Mets 7-4 on Saturday at NBT Bank Stadium. With three home runs and a stellar start from Chandler Champlain, Rochester improved to 19-19 and sent a clear message: they're a team to watch in this division.
Champlain was the anchor, tossing six strong innings and allowing just two runs on three hits. He struck out three and didn't issue a single walk, improving to 3-0 on the season. It's the kind of performance that makes a pitcher the backbone of any ballclub.
The Red Wings jumped out early, scoring in the first inning when Dylan Crews ripped an RBI double to center, bringing home Christian Franklin for a 1-0 lead. In the third, Crews reached again and Yohandy Morales followed by driving a two-run homer to right, making it 3-0. The crowd was on its feet as the ball sailed over the wall—a moment that set the tone for the night.
Syracuse fought back in the fifth when Cristian Pache was hit by a pitch and later scored on a Yonny Hernández RBI single. Jackson Cluff followed in the sixth with a solo homer to right, cutting the deficit to 3-2. But Rochester had an answer every time.
In the seventh, Trey Lipscomb opened the inning with a solo shot to right, and Harry Ford later added a two-out solo homer, pushing the lead to 5-2. The Mets answered with a Hernández RBI single in the seventh and a Christian Arroyo solo homer in the ninth, but Rochester's insurance in the ninth—two runs scoring as Franklin reached on a fielder's choice and throwing error—sealed the 7-4 win.
Morales, Lipscomb, and Ford each homered, combining for four RBI. Morales finished 1-for-5 with a two-run shot, Lipscomb went 1-for-3 with a walk and solo homer, and Ford reached three times with a home run and two walks. Crews doubled, walked, and drove in a run, while Franklin went 1-for-5 with a double and scored once. Andrew Pinckney added two hits, a stolen base, and a run, and Phillip Glasser chipped in a hit and a sacrifice.
For Syracuse, starter Zach Thornton took the loss despite six innings of work, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Whether you're a pitcher looking for that perfect grip or a hitter wanting to feel the crack of the bat, the right gear can make all the difference. From performance cleats to batting gloves that offer both comfort and control, we've got everything you need to bring your A-game. Shop our collection today and step up to the plate like the Red Wings did on Saturday.