Chiefs fall to PawSox ending historic season

The Chiefs took the field for the last time in 2014 Friday night as their historic season came to an end with a 7-6 loss to Pawtucket in the semi-finals of the International League Playoffs. 

Story and Photo by Michael Castellano


8,269 fans packed NBT Bank Stadium on a hot, steamy Friday night, a number not often reached by the Nationals Triple-A affiliate. Rally towels were being waved, fireworks went off throughout the game, and the wave even made an appearance. But the Chiefs appearance still turned out to be the last of the year.

The Chiefs, down 0-2 in a best of five International League semi-final matchup, lost to the PawSox 7-6 ending their record-setting 2014 season.

Syracuse, who had the best record in the IL(81-62), made the playoffs for the first time since 1998 and had seven players called up to the Washington Nationals when rosters expanded last Monday.

"To get there[the playoffs], to win the division; you can only take away positive things from this season," Chiefs manager Billy Gardner, Jr. said.

Their season looked as if it would be extended when the Chiefs took an early 4-0 lead due in large part to a 2-RBI double by Will Rhymes. The PawSox quickly cut into that deficit scoring two runs in the third and another in the fourth cutting the lead to 4-3.

Trailing 6-4, Pawtucket scored three runs in the top of the seventh highlighted by a 2-RBI single off the bat of Ryan Lavarney scoring Travis Shaw and Bryce Brentz giving the PawSox a 7-6 lead.

"We just couldn't protect the lead," Billy Gardner said. "Our guys competed, we battled, but we just came up short."

Syracuse threatened in the bottom of the eighth. With Brandon Laird on second Jhonathan Solano hit a sharp ground ball to second base in which Pawtucket's Ryan Roberts made a diving play to keep the score at 7-6.

Heath Hembree retired the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the ninth ending the Chiefs season and moving Pawtucket into the International League Finals.

Mitch Lively gave up three runs on four hits in only three and two thirds innings while surrendering four walks to PawSox batters.

Emmanuel Burriss went 4-5 with a double, home run, and 2 RBIs to lead the Chiefs.

The PawSox will play the winner of the other semi-finals matchup between the Durham Bulls and Columbus Clippers. Durham leads the series 2-1.

Chiefs fans gave the players a standing O after the final out followed by the last fireworks show of the season.

"This community I know loves baseball," pitching coach Paul Menhart said. "To see the support they've shown us when it was basically no one in April and May and to have 5,000 plus tonight, you can't say enough about our fans."

The Chiefs will begin their 54th season next spring in Syracuse and 19th at NBT Bank Stadium.