Chiefs Manager Disappointed in Loss, Proud of Season

By Lauren Winfrey

Syracuse Chiefs' shortstop Emmanuel Burriss led the way Friday night, going 4-5 with two RBIs as the Chiefs scored six runs on eleven hits. Still, it wasn’t enough to win Game 3 of their best of five Governors’ Cup Semifinal Series against the Pawtucket Red Sox at NBT Bank Stadium. Having lost the first two away games of the series, the Chiefs needed a win to stay afloat. Instead the PawSox came back from 4-0 and 6-4 deficits, winning 7-6 to eliminate them.  

Syracuse Chiefs take on the Pawtucket Red Sox in
Game 3 of the Governor's Cup Semifinal Series at NBT Bank Stadium

Chiefs manager Billy Gardner, Jr. said disappointment is the best way to describe the mood of the clubhouse.

“We just couldn't protect the lead,” Gardner said. “Four- nothing, they came back 4-2. Eventually, a 6-4 lead, we just couldn't protect the lead, and that was the bottom line. The guys competed, and they battled, and they just came up short.”

Although the Chiefs did not finish the way they and their fans hoped, Gardner said the loss shouldn't take away from the noteworthy season the Chiefs had. Overall in the regular season, the Chiefs had 81 wins, the best winning percentage in Triple-A baseball.

“I felt good about the team we put on the field," Gardner said. "We just didn’t do enough things right to win.”

This series marked the first time in 20 years the Chiefs made it beyond the regular season, and into a playoff series. More than 8,200 fans came out to support the Chiefs in their first-ever playoff game at the stadium. Gardner said from a team standpoint, it was a very good year.

Chiefs' pitcher Dan Stange agreed.

“We had a great regular season," Stange said. “It sucks that we lost, and it sucks that we’re done, but you can’t take away the regular season, the regular season was really good… and you can’t take that away.”