Alfaro and Hattig lead SkyChiefs past Bulls in 18-5 victory
Jason Alfaro's three-run homer and John Hattig's three-run double helped the Syracuse SkyChiefs crush the Durham Bulls 18-5 in the International League Tuesday night.
The SkyChiefs, who have the lowest team batting average in the league, pounded out 20 hits to snap a five-game losing streak.
The last time Syracuse (22-29) had 20 hits was against the Richmond Braves on May 8, 2002. The SkyChiefs last scored 18 runs against the Pawtucket Red Sox on July 20, 2001.
Durham suffered a 22-2 loss to Syracuse on May 6, 2000.
The SkyChiefs scored Tuesday with two runs in the first, five in the fourth, three in the fifth, five in the sixth and three in the seventh.
In addition to his home run, Alfaro also scored after a double and singled home Chad Mottola, who hit three singles and scored three times.
Joe Depastino knocked in a run in the fourth, doubled home a pair in the fifth and singled and scored in the sixth.
Julius Matos knocked in three runs and scored three times for Syracuse. Gabe Gross scored three times and had two RBIs.
Matt Duff (2-0) earned the win in relief after starter Josue Matos left in the fifth inning.
The tone of the game was set in the second inning when Bryant Nelson threw out Durham's Jonny Gomes at the plate after Gomes tagged at third on a deep fly ball to right field. Nelson singled and scored in the first and was intentionally walked and scored in the fourth.
Reggie Taylor hit a three-run home run off Matos in the fifth inning as the Bulls pulled to 7-5. Pete LaForest also hit two solo homers for Durham (24-29).
Bulls starter Jason Phillips (2-2) took the loss.
AUTO RACING: Robby Gordon was not being critical of Danica Patrick when he said she had an unfair weight advantage in the Indianapolis 500. Rather, he said he was simply discussing a flaw in the Indy Racing League's rules.
"The only thing I was saying was that I have a problem with the rule, not any particular driver," Gordon said Tuesday. "I've been impressed with Danica from the first time she got in an IRL car earlier this year, and I certainly did not mean to disrespect her or any other driver."
Patrick wowed the racing world by becoming the highest-finishing female driver in Indianapolis history with a fourth-place finish on Sunday.
Gordon stated the day before the race that because Patrick weighs just 100 pounds, her car is lighter than everyone else in the field. Unlike other series, the IRL does not include a driver when setting its weight limit.
In NASCAR, where Gordon currently competes, the minimum weight requirement includes the
driver.
But in the IRL, a car must weigh 1,525 pounds before the fuel and driver are added. A smaller driver would have at least a slight edge over heavier ones because of the rule.
"This rule has been around for years, and it's something that Paul Tracy and I have talked about for a long time," said Gordon, who weighs nearly 200 pounds.
Gordon's comments actually echoed those of several drivers in Indianapolis who complained that Patrick had an advantage.
"It makes a big difference," race-winner Dan Wheldon said Tuesday. "If it didn't in qualifying, you wouldn't worry about the fuel. We try to make it basically run out during qualifying, and that's what a difference of six or seven pounds makes. I definitely think it's an advantage and I'm pretty sure in due time you'll have a rule change on that."
The SkyChiefs, who have the lowest team batting average in the league, pounded out 20 hits to snap a five-game losing streak.
The last time Syracuse (22-29) had 20 hits was against the Richmond Braves on May 8, 2002. The SkyChiefs last scored 18 runs against the Pawtucket Red Sox on July 20, 2001.
Durham suffered a 22-2 loss to Syracuse on May 6, 2000.
The SkyChiefs scored Tuesday with two runs in the first, five in the fourth, three in the fifth, five in the sixth and three in the seventh.
In addition to his home run, Alfaro also scored after a double and singled home Chad Mottola, who hit three singles and scored three times.
Joe Depastino knocked in a run in the fourth, doubled home a pair in the fifth and singled and scored in the sixth.
Julius Matos knocked in three runs and scored three times for Syracuse. Gabe Gross scored three times and had two RBIs.
Matt Duff (2-0) earned the win in relief after starter Josue Matos left in the fifth inning.
The tone of the game was set in the second inning when Bryant Nelson threw out Durham's Jonny Gomes at the plate after Gomes tagged at third on a deep fly ball to right field. Nelson singled and scored in the first and was intentionally walked and scored in the fourth.
Reggie Taylor hit a three-run home run off Matos in the fifth inning as the Bulls pulled to 7-5. Pete LaForest also hit two solo homers for Durham (24-29).
Bulls starter Jason Phillips (2-2) took the loss.
AUTO RACING: Robby Gordon was not being critical of Danica Patrick when he said she had an unfair weight advantage in the Indianapolis 500. Rather, he said he was simply discussing a flaw in the Indy Racing League's rules.
"The only thing I was saying was that I have a problem with the rule, not any particular driver," Gordon said Tuesday. "I've been impressed with Danica from the first time she got in an IRL car earlier this year, and I certainly did not mean to disrespect her or any other driver."
Patrick wowed the racing world by becoming the highest-finishing female driver in Indianapolis history with a fourth-place finish on Sunday.
Gordon stated the day before the race that because Patrick weighs just 100 pounds, her car is lighter than everyone else in the field. Unlike other series, the IRL does not include a driver when setting its weight limit.
In NASCAR, where Gordon currently competes, the minimum weight requirement includes the
driver.
But in the IRL, a car must weigh 1,525 pounds before the fuel and driver are added. A smaller driver would have at least a slight edge over heavier ones because of the rule.
"This rule has been around for years, and it's something that Paul Tracy and I have talked about for a long time," said Gordon, who weighs nearly 200 pounds.
Gordon's comments actually echoed those of several drivers in Indianapolis who complained that Patrick had an advantage.
"It makes a big difference," race-winner Dan Wheldon said Tuesday. "If it didn't in qualifying, you wouldn't worry about the fuel. We try to make it basically run out during qualifying, and that's what a difference of six or seven pounds makes. I definitely think it's an advantage and I'm pretty sure in due time you'll have a rule change on that."
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