The Syracuse Spartans hosted the Genesee Rapids Tuesday evening for a seven inning doubleheader. Both teams had a lack of pitching coming into this matchup – a make-up date because of a rain out a month before. With the Spartans on a 4 game losing streak, the Rapids with a modest 2 game skid, both squads badly needed a win. 

And they battled it out in game 1, where the Rapids snapped their losing streak with an 11-10 win in extra inning (8 innings). Jack Clifford took the mound for Syracuse for game 1, Tommy Fahey for the Rapids. The Spartans once again allowed a first inning run, but the Spartans responded with 4 of their own in the first frame. Charlie Burton opened the scoring with a 2 RBI single, with JC Ng scoring on an error. Noah Roots scored the fourth run on a sacrifice fly. 

With a complete lack of command, Jack Clifford then allowed Genesee to respond with 3 runs in the second inning, and four more in the third. That stretch alone included two hit-by-pitches, four walks, and 4 hits. On top of that, two errors were charged to the Spartans in those innings as well. 

But, the Spartans counter-offered the Rapids’ 8-4 lead immediately by tying the game back up in the fourth with another 4-spot. Charlie Burton once again score a 2-RBI single, and Cole Rockwell followed – in replacement of Camden New – with a 2-RBI single of his own. 

They traded runs until the Spartans ended up with a chance to walk it off, down 10-9 in the 7th. They could only afford a run. Josh Martin took over for his second inning of work (after Connor Lavigne’s relief efforts), and allowed a run once again. Kanta Ueno scored the eventual winning run in the eighth inning with an RBI single. 

The Spartans had last-ups, and went down 1-2-3 on a great defensive showing from the Rapids in their final frame, solidifying their 11-10 win for game 1 of the doubleheader.

That sent it to game 2, where the Spartans started young righty Ryan Klementowski. The Rapids starter was Bryan Rosario. Rosario didn’t even finish the first inning before allowing 2 walks and 3 hits, leaving the game after only 2 outs. Bryan Adams came in for relief in the first.

Klementowski struggled in the second inning, allowing 2 walks and 2 hits to accumulate 3 runs for the Rapids. The score was then 4-3 going into the third inning. 

Tyler Gibson then took over for Bryan Adams and the Rapids, starting his work in the third inning. 

After three straight walks in the fourth inning, Klementowski’s day was done. With short-handed pitching, that called for catcher Charlie Burton’s pitching debut for the Spartans. He gave up a first pitch single, then a walk, and a balk to make it a 6-4 lead for the Rapids in the fourth.

Similarly, after two walks in the fifth, Gibson’s day was over, and Harrison Hobdy came out for his second appearance of the night, having earned  game 1 of the doubleheader as well. On an error to the shortstop, Pat May cut the leads to just 6-5. After a Robert Johnston single, Kyle Hoog struck out looking, bringing up Perry Chetney with the bases loaded. He grounded out, making it a 6-5 game for the Rapids mid-way through. 

The Rapids tacked on another run after a wild pitch, 7-5 lead for Genesee going into the bottom of the fifth. 

Ironically enough, Charlie Burton soon hit a rhythm, not allowing a hit for 9 batters, until the 7th inning. An RBI single from Jayden Reed added another insurance run for Genesee before the Spartans’ final chance. They entered the bottom of the seventh down 8-5 to the Rapids. 

After a lead-off strikeout, Matthew Alexander and Jimmy Legg got aboard with singles, allowing JC Ng to step up with a chance to tie things up. He walked aboard, bringing the winning runner Noah Roots up at the plate with a chance to tie it up, or more. Bases loaded, 1 out. After an RBI sacrifice fly, that made Pat May the Spartans’ last chance. Pat May plated an RBI single, moving the tying run in JC Ng to second base. Robert Johnston was now the Spartans’ last opportunity. 

On a great grab, the Rapids snagged a lineout off of Johnston’s bat, securing an 8-7 game 2 win. The Spartans are now on a 6 game losing streak.