SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Fresh off a division title a year ago, the Syracuse Chiefs have struggled this season. But their recent hot stretch continued on Wednesday night against Lehigh Valley. Though starting pitcher Paolo Espino struggled in the game, the Chiefs scored nine runs en route to their ninth straight victory.
After IronPigs starter Anthony Vasquez retired the first six hitters, the Chiefs' bats came alive in the third inning. A leadoff walk to Caleb Ramsey got the party started, as Dan Butler followed with a single that chased Ramsey to third.
Espino, who had surrendered the first run of the game in the top half of the inning, helped his own cause with a sacrifice bunt that plated the Chiefs' first run.
"It's always great as a pitcher when you get something like that," Espino told reporters after the game. "It's amazing."
Following his RBI, Emmanuel Burriss knocked in a run with a double that gave the Chiefs an early 2-1 lead. They were knocking on the door of more runs when cleanup hitter Kevin Keyes came to the plate with the bases loaded, but a twin-killing ended the inning, as Vasquez limited the damage.
The see-saw battle continued in the top of the fourth. A two-out RBI single by Kelly Dugan tied the game. The IronPigs actually had a chance to put more runs on the board after the first two hitters reached base safely, but Aaron Altherr hit into a double play, and Logan Moore, with two men on, flied out to left.
The Chiefs seized control of this game in their half of the inning with five runs on five hits (three of which were doubles) and a walk.
Lehigh responded with three runs in the fifth eyeing a comeback, but the Chiefs had other ideas. A two-run sixth inning provided a safe cushion, as the team went on to win 9-5.
After the win, manager Billy Gardner Jr. told reporters the environment is different these days. Winning does that. But with regard to how they've been able to play this well as of late, he attributed it to an overall team effort.
"We're pitching good that's the key right now," Gardner said. "You pitch. You defend. You get some timely hits, you're going to win some games."
One of those timely hits came off the bat of Burriss, who's had a pretty good season at the plate to the tune of a .289 batting average and .400 slugging percentage. He went 2-for-5 in this affair with a double, a single, and a pair of RBI's.
As the leadoff hitter, Burriss is theoretically looked upon as the catalyst for the offense. He told reporters after the game that it's something he takes seriously.
"I love the fact that I can get things for going for the team," he said. "Sometimes when I don't, I feel bad."
Burriss and the Chiefs will look to make it 10 straight wins Thursday night against Lehigh Valley.
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