With playoff seed locked up Chiefs suffer blowout loss to end season

The Chiefs got pummeled by Buffalo to end the regular season as they prep for a playoff matchup against Pawtucket beginning Wednesday. (Photo: International League)

By Michael Castellano

The Syracuse Chiefs are set to begin their first playoff series since 1998 on Wednesday against the PawSox; presumably hoping Monday afternoon's game wasn't a premonition of things to come.

Chiefs' pitchers combined to give up 20 hits including 13 given up by starter Aaron Laffey. The Bisons, who were eliminated from playoff contention after a loss yesterday to Syracuse, had six players record multi-hit games.

Buffalo(77-66) began the onslaught immediately tallying four hits in the first inning. Laffey ultimately stranded the bases loaded only allowing one run.

"He just didn't have it today," Chiefs Manager Billy Gardner said. "He made too many mistakes and left too many balls up in the zone."

It looked as if Laffey was beginning to settle down in the third after retiring the first two Buffalo batters, but he surrendered five straight 2-out hits allowing three runs to cross the plate for the Bisons.

"It's a tough game to pitch for anybody. Last game of the season, they're ready to call it a year," Chiefs pitching coach Paul Menhart said. "The balls were elevated and he had a tough time of keeping them off the bases."

Syracuse(81-62) had only three hits through the first seven innings off a strong pitching performance from Buffalo starter Scott Copeland.

"Copeland kept the ball down all game," Menhart said. "He made better quality pitches and we got out."

Buffalo's Brett Wallace, who had four hits thru the first five innings, put Syracuse in a deep hole with an RBI single in the fifth to extend the Bison lead to 6-1. Buffalo scored two more in the top of the sixth to push its lead to 8-1.

Will Rhymes, who is not on the Nationals' 40-man roster and will stay with the Chiefs for their playoff push, added an RBI single in the ninth to cut the final score to 8-2.

Aaron Laffey, who has pitched well this year for Syracuse (12-6, 3.67 ERA), suffered the loss allowing six runs on 13 hits in four innings pitched. He is slated to start game four of the International League semi-finals against Pawtucket.

"He's a professional. He's been doing this a long time." Menhart said. "I don't see him wavering at all in his next start [in the playoffs]."

The Chiefs are scheduled to begin their playoff push Wednesday in Pawtucket. Taylor Hill is listed to start for Syracuse opposed by Edwin Escobar for the PawSox. Game time is set for 7:05p.m. The Chiefs return home for game three on Friday in Syracuse.