Buffalo, NY (May 15, 2017) - The Syracuse Chiefs dropped the opening game of a four-game series to the Buffalo Bisons, 8-6, Monday night at Coca-Cola Field in downtown Buffalo. With the game tied at six in the eighth, Buffalo scored two unearned runs to pick up an 8-6 win.
Buffalo, NY (May 15, 2017) - The Syracuse Chiefs dropped the opening game of a four-game series to the Buffalo Bisons, 8-6, Monday night at Coca-Cola Field in downtown Buffalo. With the game tied at six in the eighth, Buffalo scored two unearned runs to pick up an 8-6 win. Clint Robinson had two hits for the Chiefs and Joe Nathan threw more than one inning for the first time since 2013.
Syracuse (12-21) started the scoring in the first inning. Rafael Bautista walked to lead off the game against Jarrett Grube. After Grube threw to first base three times, Bautista stole second on the first pitch to Andrew Stevenson. Stevenson then bunted for a single to put runners on first and third. Matt Skole followed with a walk to load the bases. Two batters later, Robinson singled home two runs for a 2-0 lead. Pedro Severino then hit a ground ball to short that resulted in a run down with Robinson and Skole scoring for a 3-0 advantage.
Buffalo (19-16) struck back with six in the third. Christian Lopes doubled with one out against A.J. Cole. Darrell Ceciliani singled home Lopes to put the Bisons on the board. After back-to-back walks to load the bases, Raffy Lopez singled to center to bring in two runs and tie the game at three. Cole would retire Jake Elmore, but hit both Ian Parmley to load the bases and then Jonathan Diaz to bring in the fourth run in the inning. Trevor Gott came out of the bullpen, and Roemon Fields doubled to left to plate two more runs and give the Bisons a three-run lead.
The Chiefs tied the game again in the fifth. Grant Green singled and Adrían Sanchez doubled to put runners on second and third. Bautista continued his strong day with a single to score Green and bring the Chiefs within two. Bautista then stole second and Stevenson singled to right, driving in two runs and tying the game at six.
The game remained tied until the eighth. Nathan walked Diaz and Fields singled to right field. Brandon Snyder bobbled the ball in right, allowing the runners to move up on the error. With Lopes batting, Diaz scored on a passed ball on Severino to give the Bisons the lead. Lopes then grounded out to short, scoring Fields for the second unearned run of the inning, giving the Bisons an 8-6 lead.
Syracuse and Buffalo return to Coca-Cola Field Tuesday night at 6:05 p.m. Kyle McGowin will start for the Chiefs opposite Cesar Valdez for the Bisons.
