Skole sparks Syracuse Chiefs offense

Story and Photos by EJay Zarett

Syracuse, N.Y.-- With the score tied at one in the bottom of the sixth inning on Wednesday night, third baseman Matt Skole delivered for the Syracuse Chiefs.

Skole drove a 1-1 pitch from Buffalo Bisons' starting pitcher Scott Copeland over the right field fence to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead. Syracuse (50-61) scored four more unanswered runs to earn a 6-1 victory. The home run was Skole’s 15^th of the season.

“I was just looking for a good pitch to hit,” Skole said. “I knew he was going to try and throw something soft and get me to chase. He made a mistake and I just put a good swing on it.”

Voth earns sixth win of season

Chiefs starting pitcher Austin Voth allowed just one run over seven innings to pick up his sixth victory. He scattered six hits and struck out four to lower his ERA to 3.45 on the season. Voth was not available for comment after the game.

“He used his fastball really well,” Chiefs manager Billy Gardner said. “He made pitches when he needed…Overall, he did a great job. Gave us seven innings, nailed his spots and kept the ball down.”

The Chiefs have now won two of their last three games after splitting a doubleheader with Buffalo (56-56) on Tuesday. Prior to that, Syracuse had lost six of its last seven.

Voth worked out of trouble in the first inning, striking out Buffalo first baseman Chris Colabello to end the frame and strand runners at first and second. Only one other Bison runner would advance into scoring position over the games’ first five innings.

Syracuse struck first in the bottom of the third. Chiefs’ center fielder Michael Taylor drove a ball to deep right center field that just evaded Bisons' outfielder Dalton Pompey. The ball tipped off Pompey’s glove, allowing Syracuse right fielder Zach Collier to score from first.

Taylor was sent down by the Washington Nationals on July 28 and has played just eight games for the Chiefs this season.

“Michael’s an extraordinary talent,” Gardner said about Taylor. “Having his presence in the middle of the lineup has been a big boost for us.”

Buffalo’s lone run came off of an infield single by right fielder Junior Lake in the top of the sixth. Lake hit a slow roller to second base and beat the throw to first, allowing Matt Dominguez to score from third. Dominguez recorded a game-high three hits.

Syracuse extends the lead 

But, after Skole’s home run to retake the lead, Syracuse pulled away. The Chiefs scored another run in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the eighth to secure the victory.

“Whenever anybody gets a big hit, guys kind of relax a little bit and everyone goes up there looking to succeed,” Skole told reporters after the game. “It kind of built our confidence and we ended up scoring some more runs and getting the win.”

Two batters after Skole’s home run, left fielder Matt den Dekker delivered an RBI double to extend the lead while shortstop Jason Martinson drove in two runs of his own in the following inning to break the game open. First baseman Caleb Ramsey also homered in the contest.

“We got a few mistakes that we took advantage of tonight and that was key,” Gardner said. “These guys have done a great job, top through bottom, of competing. They grind out at-bats.”