By: Emily Dick
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| Syracuse Chiefs vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders |
SYRACUSE, N.Y.— All it took was a late inning push and a strong debut from a top prospect for the Syracuse Chiefs to overcome the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Monday night.
But it was a rough start for the Chiefs. By the third inning, the team had given up nearly as many runs as it had errors, one coming from new acquisition Michael Taylor in the first inning.
Taylor made a deep catch from a Robert Refsnyder fly ball on the center field warning track, but bobbled the ball as he attempted to get it back in.
“I think I was just rushing a little bit, after I made the catch I was thinking about getting the ball in maybe a little too quick,” Taylor said.
The RailRiders capitalized on the drop and Jose Pirela scored.
Another error in the third inning led to a 3-0 lead for the visitors, but the Chiefs answered in the fourth.
Brandon Laird hit a two-run home run and Will Rhymes hit a two-run double with the bases loaded in the inning to jolt the Chiefs' struggling offense to a 4-3 lead.
The RailRiders came back in the fifth and sixth innings after two more Syracuse errors to lead 6-4.
The Chiefs had enough for one big push in the seventh. Rhymes started the rally with a single to left field. Jeff Kobernus doubled on a line drive to left, scoring Rhymes from first. Brandon Laird later singled on a fly ball to center field, scoring Kobernus and sending Emmanuel Burriss to second.
That’s when Taylor stepped up to the plate, both literally and figuratively.
With runners on first and second, and a game tied at six, Taylor, who had been playing for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators less than 24 hours earlier, doubled to left, bringing Burriss home for the go-ahead run.
The 7-6 win snapped the RailRiders' four-win streak and gave the Chiefs a one game lead over the Rochester Red Wings in the International League North.
The Chiefs started the season strong, but have been struggling of late. It didn’t help that star outfielder Steven Souza, Jr. had been called up to the Nationals Sunday night.
Souza led the league in batting average (.354), slugging percentage (.601), on-base percentage (.435) and was tied for first in RBIs (70).
Souza’s departure led to Taylor’s start for the Chiefs, and it’s a team he says he plans to contribute to.
“Coming from a club that’s been struggling a little bit, it’s a good change and hopefully I can help out and we can hold this out and get a ring,” Taylor said.
Taylor ended the night with two hits and two walks.
The Chiefs will finish up their series with the RailRiders tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.
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