Chiefs win a close one

By: Thomas Scott

In the second game of a doubleheader against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on a comfortable Tuesday night, Yunesky Maya's dominating performance on the mound was the key to a narrow 3-2 victory for the Syracuse Chiefs.

Having lost an extra innings game that was being resumed from July 12, just 30 minutes before the second game started, the Chiefs had to regain their focus and prepare for a full nine-inning game. Fortunately for the players and the fans, the second game started at 7:17 p.m.

Maya worked quickly through the RailRiders lineup limiting them to only five hits on the night.  He recorded five strikeouts, eight groundouts, and eight fly outs.

The only blip on an otherwise great scorecard was the two run home run Maya served up to Melky Mesa in the top of the third inning. Aside from that, Maya stayed out of trouble the rest of the game.

The Chiefs offense provided just enough run support for their pitcher with a two out rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. Having been down one run after Mesa's home run, Corey Brown and Zach Walters hit back to back singles to center field.    Jhonathan Solano, the next batter, brought in Brown with a single of his own to tie the game 2-2. Josh Johnson then drove a ball to the left field fence that brought in Walters for the go ahead run. Solano attempted to score from first on the play and was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

“Maya’s been good for a long time,” said Chiefs outfielder Tyler Moore. “He was tough on those guys.”

The RailRiders's bats were nearly silenced for the rest of the night. After the fourth inning, only two men reached base; one reached safely on a throwing error by Danny Espinosa.

It didn't matter because Maya never let another runner advance past second base anyway.  As he approached his 100th pitch of the night, Maya broke off a nasty curveball to strike out Dan Johnson to end the eighth inning. Solano, the catcher, celebrated the strike out with an emphatic fist pump as they both ran off the field.

In the ninth, Maya was relieved by the closer, Erik Davis. Davis retired the first three batters he faced for a clean save.

“I love when Maya’s pitching,” said Davis. “He works fast and throws strikes.”

Maya’s quick pace kept the RailRiders hitters off the bases most of the night. He never faced more than five batters in any inning. In four of his innings, he only faced three batters.

The Chiefs play the RailRaiders again on Wednesday before beginning a five game series against the Pawtucket Red Sox.