Syracuse Chiefs Win Ninth Straight

By Yonah Perline

Syracuse, N.Y. -  The Syracuse Chiefs extended their winning steak to nine games Wednesday night, beating the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 9-5 at NBT Bank Stadium. The Chiefs broke a 2-2 ballgame wide open when they brought home five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Matt den Dekker (1-3, 1 R) lined a single to right field to start the rally and Caleb Ramsey (2-3, 2 R) did the same to put runners on first and second with one out. Dan Butler (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R) got his second hit in as many plate appearances after roping a double down the third base line. 

"I was just able to see the pitches well and make good contact [off the lefty pitcher]," Butler said. 

With two runs in, a man on second and one out, pitcher Paolo Espino (0-1, 1 RBI) advanced the runner to third with a ground ball to second.

Speedster Emmanuel Burriss (2-5, 2RBI, 1 R) hit a routine ground ball through the five-six hole and took advantage of a lazy outfield by hustling to second base.

"That's the type of baseball that we need to play if we're gonna win games," Burriss said. "I wouldn't call it lazy, I just hope that my hustle is better than [their] hustle."

Trea Turner (2-4, 2 R) walked, and Jason Martinson (1-3, 2 RBI) stepped up to the plate with two bases occupied and two outs. Martinson hit a bomb in the left center gap to plate two and cap the five-run inning. 

The IronPigs put three more runs on the board when Brian Bogusevic hit a home run to right center with two on in the top of the fifth inning, but that was all they could manage off Chiefs' starter Espino. He finished his night with five innings pitched, allowing five earned runs and nine hits while striking out two and walking one. Not the prettiest line, but it earned him the win. P.J. Walters and Matt Grace combined for four scoreless innings in relief to secure the victory. 

"Sometimes having a big lead can lead to guys throwing the ball in the strike zone too much and guys get hit," Espino said. "I don't feel as bad at the end of the game, even though I gave up a lot of runs, because this is a team game and at the end when you get a win, it's always good." 

The Chiefs will look to take its winning streak to double digits in the third and final game of the series against the Iron Pigs Thursday night at NBT Bank Park. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.