Syracuse Chiefs Win Behind Strong Performance of Austin Voth

Story and Photo by Curtis Driscoll

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bisons Wednesday night 6-1, moving to 50-61 for the season. The Chiefs benefited from the strong performance of Austin Voth, a 5^th round draft pick in the 2013 MLB draft. Voth, who has endured a tough season, completed seven innings and gave up only one run, lowering his ERA to 3.45.

Voth was not available to speak after the game, but Manager Billy Gardner, Jr. was full of praise for Voth’s performance and the season he has had.

“I don’t think the record is any indication of how he’s has pitched so far, I think he has pitched pretty well for us,” Gardner said in a postgame interview. “You know he’s continuing to get better and that’s what we are here for, you know to get better and get ready for the big leagues.”

Catcher Jhonatan Solano was also complimentary of Voth’s pitching performance.

“You know he started the game mixing his pitches and that got a good result today, just one run in I think the 5^th inning or something, but you know it’s part of the process of the game and were happy for Voth to get that win,” Solano said.

Voth and Bisons' starting pitcher Scott Copeland were locked in a pitcher’s duel for the first half of the game, with each pitcher only allowing one run and three hits through five innings. Manager Gary Allenson decided to take Copeland out after 5 1/3 innings, even though Copeland was in control throughout the game.

The change did not work as the Buffalo bullpen allowed five runs over the rest of the game, two of which came in the 5^th inning off a Matt Skole home run. The home run was his 15^th of the season and he leads the team in that category.

“He had a big home run for us tonight against a left-hander, he had a fastball put a good swing on it,” Gardner said.

The Skole home run not only provided the lead, but the spark needed to increase the lead.

“Yeah, I think whenever somebody gets a big hit, you know the guys kinda relax a little bit and everybody goes up there looking to succeed and I think that helped us out tonight,” Skole said.

Chiefs To Stay

For the Syracuse Chiefs and their fans, the good news does not just pertain to the diamond. The Syracuse Chiefs and the Onondaga County Legislature announced Tuesday that they had agreed to a new lease that would ensure the Chiefs would play at NBT Bank Stadium for the next 10 years.

“I don’t know much about it, obviously it’s great for Syracuse, you know the fans have been great,” Gardner said. "You know the front office, Jason Smorol, his staff do a great job here. I think we have a really good relationship, work relationship, Nationals, the Syracuse Chiefs; it’s good that we hopefully can keep going.”