Buffalo, NY (July 3, 2017) - The Syracuse Chiefs fell to the Buffalo Bisons, 6-2, on Monday night from Coca-Cola Field. All six of the Bisons' runs came courtesy of a six-run, 11-batter bottom of the first inning. Sean O'Sullivan was magnificent in what became a relief outing for the
Buffalo, NY (July 3, 2017) - The Syracuse Chiefs fell to the Buffalo Bisons, 6-2, on Monday night from Coca-Cola Field. All six of the Bisons' runs came courtesy of a six-run, 11-batter bottom of the first inning. Sean O'Sullivan was magnificent in what became a relief outing for the right-hander. The 29-year-old tossed six shutout innings, allowing just one hit, and striking out three.
Buffalo (37-47) brought 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, exploding for six runs. Dwight Smith Jr. led off the frame with a single off the Nationals' top pitching prospect per Baseball America, Erick Fedde. Jon Berti then doubled down the right-field line off the side wall, plating Smith for the first run of the game. After a Michael Saunders walk, Rowdy Tellez fouled off six two-strike pitches in a 12-pitch at-bat before doubling off the left-field fence and bringing both Berti and Saunders in to score. Following a Mike Ohlman walk, Raffy Lopez poked a soft line drive into right-center field, allowing Tellez to score. Next, Gregorio Petit singled on a softly hit ground ball through the right side of the infield, bringing Ohlman in to score. After the first seven Bisons of the inning reached base against Fedde, Cody Satterwhite came on in relief. After a fielder's choice, Roemon Fields singled into right field, scoring Lopez and putting the Bisons on top 6-0
Syracuse (29-51) recovered a run in the top of the second inning against Chris Rowley. Neftali Soto crushed a double to the right-field fence to lead off the inning. Following an Alejandro De Aza fly out to center that moved Soto up to third, Jhonatan Solano hit a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Soto in to score and cutting the lead to 6-1.
The Chiefs got another run back in the seventh. With John Stilson on the mound, De Aza walked to kick off the frame. Solano followed with a single into right field, putting runners on first and second for Emmanuel Burriss. In the next at-bat, Burriss smacked a ground ball to shortstop Petit. Petit attempted to turn two with the second baseman Berti, but Berti's throw one-hopped Tellez at first base, allowing Burriss to reach on the fielders' choice and De Aza to move up to third. Following a Stephen Perez walk to load the bases, Stilson was removed from the game in favor of Matt Dermody. Andrew Stevenson, the first batter that Dermody faced, tapped a soft ground ball to the right side of the infield. Berti picked the ball, but only had a play to first base which allowed De Aza to score from third and sliced the Buffalo lead to just 6-2. Irving Falu, however, would ground out to end the threat.
The Chiefs head back home for an Independence Day matchup with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. from NBT Bank Stadium. Jaron Long is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season with Syracuse while International League All-Star Tom Eshelman will take the hill for Lehigh Valley.
