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Syracuse Mets

Hill, Lerud Lead Chiefs over Braves

May 14, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


The Syracuse Chiefs closed out their second series win of the year with a 4-1 victory over the Gwinnett Braves on Thursday afternoon from Coolray Field. Right-hander Taylor Hill threw a season-high eight innings, allowing just one run, and catcher Steve Lerud drove in all four Syracuse runs in the win. The Chiefs have won three of four games to start a seven-game road trip.

Syracuse (15-19) struck first in the second inning against left-hander Greg Smith. With two outs, Matt den Dekker singled and advanced to second on a balk. Lerud followed by grounding a single into right field, scoring den Dekker for the game's first run.

The Syracuse backstop haunted his old team again in the seventh inning. After a Jason Martinson walk and den Dekker fielder's choice, Lerud smashed a first-pitch offering into the Syracuse bullpen in right field for a two-run home run. Lerud's second long ball of the year gave Syracuse a 3-0 lead.

In the ninth, the Chiefs added one more behind a familiar combination. Den Dekker singled with one out against Juan Jaime, stole second base and scored on an RBI single from Lerud. In his last three games, Lerud's now 8 for 10 with a walk and a home run.

Those runs were more than enough for Hill, who dazzled in his best start of the season. He retired the first 10 batters he faced and surrendered just five hits and no walks, striking out four. The outing was Hill's longest since last June 14th against Norfolk, another eight-inning start.

Gwinnett (16-18) finally scored in the ninth. Eury Perez was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Peraza singled to right field, knocking Hill out of the game for Rafael Martin. Adonis Garcia's fielder's-choice groundout drove home a run, and the Braves did load the bases with two outs, but Martin induced a fly out from Jose Yepez to seal the win.

Syracuse begins a three-game series at Charlotte Friday night at 7:05. Chiefs right-hander A.J. Cole is scheduled to start against Knights right-hander Erik Johnson.

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