Moosic, PA (April 8, 2018) - The Syracuse Chiefs put three runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning, but their comeback fell one-run short, falling to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at PNC Field. The teams combined to score seven runs between the bottom of
Moosic, PA (April 8, 2018) - The Syracuse Chiefs put three runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning, but their comeback fell one-run short, falling to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at PNC Field. The teams combined to score seven runs between the bottom of the eighth and top of the ninth inning, after the game had been tied at one entering the eighth. The Chiefs dropped two of three games, despite the RailRiders pitching with the lead in just two innings the entire series.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (2-1) started the eighth inning with Mike Ford reaching on a walk and Ryan McBroom singling off Jaron Long. Three batters later, after a pop up bunt and fielder's choice at second, the Chiefs turned to Christopher Smith. Smith walked Erik Kratz, and the ball-four pitched bounced away, allowing Ford to score from third on a wild pitch to give the RailRiders a 2-1 lead. Smith then walked Abiatal Avelino to reload the bases, and walked Shane Robinson to bring home a third RailRiders' run. Gelyber Torres followed with a two-RBI single to extend the lead to 5-1.
Syracuse (1-2) started its ninth inning comeback when Victor Robles walked and Andrew Stevenson was hit by a Cody Carroll pitch. Two batters later, Moisés Sierra singled down the right-field line, scoring Robles to cut the score to 5-2. Then with Oliver Pérez in the game, Alejandro De Aza singled to bring home Stevenson from third, and advanced Sierra to third. Chris Dominguez followed with a sacrifice fly to the wall in center field to bring the score to 5-4. Perez then walked Spencer Kieboom, and the RailRiders turned to J.P. Feyerisen, who got Irving Falu to fly out to center to end the game.
The game had been a pitcher's duel, with neither team scoring through the first five innings. Chiefs starting pitcher Erick Fedde threw five scoreless innings while allowing just four hits, two of which were infield singles. The Nationals' top pitching prospect per Baseball America walked just one batter and struck out two.
The RailRiders scored the game's first run in the bottom of the sixth inning off Long. With two outs, McBroom singled. Billy Fleming followed with a double to left-center field. McBroom was moving towards second base on the pitch and scored from first to give the RailRiders a 1-0 lead.
Syracuse responded in the top of the seventh against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre reliever Giovanny Gallegos. With one out, Sierra worked a walk. Two batters later, with Chris Dominguez at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Sierra to advance to second. Dominguez then singled to left-center field, scoring Sierra to tie the game at one.
The Chiefs continue their season-opening road trip Monday night at 5:35 p.m. against the Rochester Red Wings. RHP Edwin Jackson is scheduled to start for the Chiefs opposite RHP Aaron Slegers for the Red Wings.
