IL1 Syracuse Mets

Chiefs Hang Out, Beat Tides

July 20, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, beat the Norfolk Tides, 6-4, on Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Alliance Bank Stadium on Friday night. The Chiefs scored two runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings en route to just their second win in their last 13 games.

Norfolk (51-50) got to Chiefs starter Zach Duke early. L.J. Hoes led off the game with a single, moved to second on a groundout by Zelous Wheeler, and scored the game's first run on a ground-rule double from Lew Ford. Two batters later, Ford scored on a line-drive single by Ronny Paulino to put Norfolk up 2-0.

Duke would right the ship from there. He retired nine straight batters en route to picking up his eleventh win of the season. He allowed four runs on nine hits in six innings of work.

Meanwhile, Syracuse (46-53) finally got the bats going in the bottom of the third inning. Koyie Hill led off with a single to left field and scored one out later on Josh Johnson's double. Corey Brown then singled down the left-field line to drive home Johnson and tie the game at two.

The Chiefs kept at it in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking the lead for good. Brett Carroll singled with one out and scored on a two-out double by Hill. Eury Perez, in his Triple-A debut, followed with a single through the right side of the Tides infield that scored Hill and gave the Chiefs a 4-2 lead.

Syracuse kept up the two-run trend in the bottom of the fifth inning. Brown singled and scored on Jesus Valdez's double that one-hopped the wall in left-center field. Valdez came home with the sixth Chiefs run on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Rivero.

The Tides answered back in the top of the sixth inning. Paulino singled with one out. Then, Luis Exposito blasted a two-run homer over the left-field wall to cut the Chiefs lead to 6-4.

The game took a different turn in the bottom of the sixth. Benches cleared as Hill and Exposito brawled behind home plate. Both catchers were ejected from the game.

After Pat Lehman and Atahualpa Severino combined to pitch a scoreless seventh inning for the Chiefs, Norfolk got back on the board in the top of the eighth inning.

With two outs, the Tides loaded the bases against Hassan Pena on a single from Brandon Waring, a double from Jamie Hoffman, and a walk of Blake Davis. Christian Garcia relieved Pena, but walked Hoes to force in Waring and bring the Tides to within one at 6-5. Garcia then induced Wheeler to bounce into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Syracuse's closer Garcia came back and tossed a scoreless ninth inning to earn his fourth save of the year.

The Chiefs and Tides play in game two of a four-game series Saturday night at 7:00. Mitch Atkins is scheduled to pitch for the home Chiefs. The Tides are set to counter with Jake Arrieta.

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International League Stories from July 20, 2012


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