Chiefs Establish a Rhythm with Pitching and Teamwork

By Lindsey Horsting

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Chiefs won their ninth straight game Wednesday night at NBT Bank Stadium, beating the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 9-5 on the second night of a three game series.

It's a streak that can be kept alive with teamwork and good pitching, according to team manager Billy Gardner.

 

“I think the clubhouse environment is really good right now,"Gardner said. "They get along well.  I think we’re pitching good, that’s the key right now.  You pitch, you defend, and get some timely hits and you’re going to win some games,”

Lehigh Valley scored the first run of the ball game in the third inning by catcher Logan Moore who was driven in by third baseman Chase d’Arnaud.  In the bottom of the third, Chiefs pitcher Paolo Espino hit a sacrifice bunt that scored right fielder Caleb Ramsey from third base and moved cather Dan Butler to second. Second baseman Emmanuel Burriss brought catcher Dan Butler in to give Syracuse a 2-1 lead. The Chiefs had the bases loaded with two outs, but left fielder Kevin Keyes couldn’t capitalize.

The IronPigs scored one run in the top of the fourth when second baseman Tyler Pastornicky drove in right fielder Kelly Dugan to tie the game 2-2.  Keyes ran down a fly ball for the third out. 

The Chiefs broke it open in the bottom of the fourth with five runs.  Butler scored Ramsey and center fielder Matt den Dekker, and Burriss returned the favor and scored Butler on a double.  Third baseman, Jason Martinson scored shortstop Trea Turner and Burriss and the Chiefs had a 7-2 lead.

The IronPigs rallied in the top of the fifth.  Pastornicky brought shortstop K.C. Serna to third base with a double, and first baseman Brian Bogusevic hit a home run for three runs in the inning, closing the gap to 7-5 Chiefs. 

In the top of the sixth the Chiefs switched out pitchers to P.J. Walters who went the next three innings with no runs scored against him, before Matt Grace closed with a scoreless ninth.  Gardner had no reservations about putting Walters in the game.

“He’s really done a good job pitching some high leverage situations for us,” Gardner said.

Walters said the team is good about picking each other up.

“If I can go an extra inning here, an extra inning there, it helps the next guy be fresh for tomorrow.  Out there in the bullpen we’re all trying to help each other that way,” Walters said.

In the bottom of the sixth, the IronPigs switched pitchers again and the Chiefs scored two more runs.  Keyes brought in Walters, and first baseman Matt Skole brought in Turner to seal the lead 9-5.   

Espino takes the win pitching five innings, gave up five runs and nine hits to even his record at 5-5.  Anthony Vasquez takes the loss in 3-and-2/3 innings for the IronPigs. 

The Chiefs play the IronPigs for the final game of the series Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.