IL1 Syracuse Mets

Chiefs Clip Braves, 6-5, in Seesaw Finish

May 28, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


Lawrenceville, GA - The Syracuse Chiefs rallied for a 6-5 win over the Gwinnett Braves on Saturday night. Syracuse scored runs in the eighth and ninth innings to overcome a five-run Gwinnett rally in the seventh. Caleb Ramsey's RBI single in the ninth inning provided the winning run.

Syracuse (26-21) started the scoring in the first. Brian Goodwin reached on an error by shortstop Ozzie Albies. Matt den Dekker followed by hitting his first home run with the Chiefs over the right-field wall against Braves starter Manny Banuelos. The long ball gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.

Gwinnett (24-26) could not solve Chiefs starter Aaron Laffey through the first six innings. The Syracuse left-hander surrendered just two hits in six shutout frames, with three walks and four strikeouts. The G-Braves managed just five hits against Syracuse starters over the first two games of the series.

The Chiefs added to their lead in the seventh. Tony Campana pinch-hit for Laffey and walked against Lucas Harrell. Trea Turner followed with his second triple in as many nights, scoring Campana to give Syracuse a 3-0 lead. Two batters later, after a pitching change, den Dekker singled off Dario Alvarez to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Braves followed with a stunning rally, scoring their first runs of the series and taking the lead in the bottom of the inning. Gwinnett loaded the bases off Sam Runion after Rio Ruiz singled, Ronnier Mustelier walked and Anthony Recker singled. Blake Lalli then singled home Ruiz and Mustelier to cut the deficit in half. The Chiefs went to the bullpen and Matt Grace replaced Sam Runion. Albies followed the pitching change by singling to left field, plating Recker and making the score 4-3. After Grace struck out Jace Peterson, Emilio Bonifacio doubled into the right-field corner, bringing home two runs to give the Braves the lead for the first time at 5-4.

Syracuse immediately followed by tying the game in the eighth. Jason Martinson singled to start the inning against Kanekoa Texeira. After a fielder's choice groundout from Caleb Ramsey, Jhonatan Solano singled to move Ramsey to second. Two batters later, Turner sent a ground-ball single to center field, plating Ramsey to tie the score at five.

In the ninth, the Chiefs grabbed the lead back for good. den Dekker started the inning with a five-pitch walk. Matt Skole grounded the next pitch toward the middle, where second baseman Jace Peterson fielded and subsequently attempted a behind-the-back throw to second base. The throw, however, was not in time, putting a pair on board for the Chiefs. After pinch-hitter Taylor Hill bunted into a fielder's choice at third and Martinson flied out, Ramsey stepped up with two runners on and two outs. He ripped Texeira's first pitch into center field, and Skole slid in ahead of Bonifacio's throw for a 6-5 lead.

Rafael Martin, for the second consecutive night, closed the door with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Chiefs search for a sweep of the three-game set Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Paolo Espino is scheduled to start for Syracuse opposite Tyrell Jenkins for Gwinnett.

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