IL1 Syracuse Mets

Four Homers Not Enough in Chiefs' 8-5 Loss

July 16, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, dropped the opener of a four-game series on Monday night with an 8-5 loss to Pawtucket. The loss was Syracuse's eighth straight defeat, extending a season-long streak. The Chiefs did hit four home runs in the game despite falling short in the end.

After Syracuse (44-51) stranded the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, Pawtucket (53-44) took advantage of its offensive opportunity in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Che-Hsuan Lin and Lars Anderson laced back-to-back singles against Chiefs left-hander John Lannan. First baseman Mauro Gomez then cracked a double to left-center field, scoring Lin for the game's first run. Anderson came around to score one batter later, when Alex Hassan reached on a Carlos Rivero throwing error, and J.C. Linares' RBI single gave the Red Sox their third run of the inning.

Pawtucket tacked on some runs featuring the long ball in the middle innings. With two outs in the fifth, Gomez tagged Lannan for a solo home run over the bullpen in left field, extending Pawtucket's lead to 4-0.

The Red Sox kept up the pressure in the sixth frame with a leadoff solo shot from Linares. After singles from Mike Rivera and Nate Spears, Lannan was knocked out of the game. Two batters later, Rivera scored from third base on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Jose Iglesias.

After five scoreless innings from starting pitcher Tony Pena, Syracuse finally broke the offensive drought against reliever Daniel Bard in the seventh. Rivero led off the inning with a walk, before right fielder Brett Carroll lined a two-run home run just inside the left-field foul pole. The home run, Carroll's sixth, cut the lead to 6-2.

But it didn't take long for Pawtucket to retaliate. In the bottom of the frame, Rivera launched a Mitch Atkins pitch for a long two-run home run onto the berm in left-center field. That ballooned the lead back to two runs at 8-2.

Syracuse, however, continued to turn the game into a home run derby in the top of the eighth. With one out and left-hander Will Latimer pitching, left fielder Jesus Valdez slugged a home run to the left of straightaway center field for perhaps the night's longest of the long balls. Two batters later, Rivero laced a solo home run to left field, cutting the score to 8-4.

Pinch-hitter Carlos Maldonado provided the night's final fireworks in the top of the ninth inning, crushing another solo home run to center field with one out. That cut the Pawtucket lead to 8-5. But after a Corey Brown single, Latimer retired the next two batters to seal the win for the Red Sox.

The Chiefs and Red Sox will battle for the second time in a four-game series on Tuesday night at 7:05. Right-hander Yunesky Maya is scheduled to throw for Syracuse against Pawtucket right-hander Doug Mathis.

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