Late rally leads Bats past Chiefs, 9-5

Louisville, KY (July 19, 2017) - The Syracuse Chiefs allowed the final seven runs in a 9-5 loss to the Louisville Bats on Wednesday night. Former Met Dilson Herrera gave Louisville the lead with a pinch-hit three-run double in the sixth inning. The loss marred a standout performance from the middle of the Chiefs' order, with Neftali Soto and Clint Robinson combining for four extra-base hits and five RBIs.

Syracuse (33-61) started the scoring with a two-run first inning. After Soto reached on a fielding error by catcher Adrian Nieto, Robinson launched a two-run homer off Jackson Stephens into the upper deck in right field. Robinson's second home run of the series, estimated at 406 feet, gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.
Louisville (39-57) answered with a run in the second. Eric Jagielo singled off Erick Fedde to lead off the inning, moved to second on a groundout, to third on a single, and scored on Zach Vincej's single through the left side to cut the Chiefs' lead to one.
But Syracuse struck for two more runs in the third. Andrew Stevenson and Irving Falu each singled to start the inning. Soto followed with a two-run double to center, scoring both runners and pushing the lead to 4-1.
The Bats added a second run in the fourth. Alex Blandino led off the frame with his second home run of the year, making the score 4-2.
The Chiefs took a three-run lead again in the sixth. Soto knocked his second double of the game to lead off the inning, and Robinson followed with a double to stretch the score to 5-2.
But the Bats took flight in the bottom of the frame. Jagielo doubled off Kevin Jepsen, and Blandino singled to put runners on first and third. After Adrian Nieto walked, Jepsen threw a wild pitch, allowing Jagielo to score. A walk to Vincej reloaded the bases before the Chiefs turned to Neal Cotts out of the bullpen. Herrera doubled on the second pitch to left field, scoring all three runs to give the Bats a 6-5 lead.
In the eighth, the Bats struck for three more runs against Trevor Gott. Herrera singled to start the inning and moved to second on a groundout. After a strikeout, Gott intentionally walked Sebastian Elizalde. Brandon Dixon then reached on an error on Emmanuel Burriss at short, allowing Herrera to score and Elizalde to moved to third. Dixon stole second, and Jagielo singled home both runs to push the Bats lead to 9-5.
Syracuse hits the road to open a five-game, four-day series, starting with a doubleheader Thursday night in Columbus, Ohio against the Clippers at Huntington Park. A.J. Cole is scheduled to start game one for the Chiefs, with Syracuse's game two starter still to be announced. Julian Merryweather and Chris Narveson will start for Columbus. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 5:35 start.