IL1 Syracuse Mets

Second-Inning Burst Leads Chiefs Past Braves

Published on July 6, 2014 under International League (IL1)
Syracuse Mets News Release


The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, began an eight-game road trip with a 6-1 win over the Gwinnett Braves. Syracuse broke the game open with five runs in the second inning en route to its second straight win.

Gwinnett (42-48) took a rapid-fire lead with a first-inning run against left-hander Aaron Laffey. Todd Cunningham led off the inning with a second-pitch double. Phil Gosselin sacrificed Cunningham to third base, where he'd score on a groundout from Tyler Pastornicky.

Syracuse (53-36) immediately responded, pouring on five runs in the second against Daniel Rodriguez. Brandon Laird started the inning with a single, and two batters later, Sandy Leon singled him to second. Josh Johnson followed with a walk to load the bases for Laffey, who took four consecutive pitches out of the zone for a bases-loaded walk, forcing home Laird to tie the game at one. After a Jeff Kobernus fly out, shortstop Zach Walters walked on four pitches, driving in Leon from third base for a 2-1 lead - just one night after the Chiefs beat Pawtucket on a walkoff four-pitch walk to Tyler Moore. Right fielder Steven Souza, Jr. followed by opening the floodgates, smashing a three-run double down the left-field line to unload the bases and drive Rodriguez from the game.

The Chiefs' next run came in the fifth. Souza walked to lead off the inning and subsequently stole second base. With two outs, he scored on a line-drive single to right field by Destin Hood, upping the Syracuse lead to 6-1.

Those runs were more than enough for Laffey, who built on his All-Star season with another brilliant outing. In seven innings, Laffey surrendered just three hits and one earned run, walking three and striking out six. The southpaw became the first International League pitcher to win 11 games this year.

Syracuse and Gwinnett resume their series on Monday at 6:35 p.m. for the second of a four-game set. Chiefs right-hander Josh Roenicke is scheduled to throw against former Syracuse hurler and current Braves starter Yunesky Maya.

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