Chiefs clinch I.L. North

Syracuse claims its first division title since 1989

August 30, 2014

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, clinched their first division title since 1989 with a 6-2 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox on Saturday night from McCoy Stadium. Right-hander Mitch Lively struck out a career-high 11 batters and the Chiefs scored the game's final five runs, leading Syracuse to its first North Division championship in 25 years.

Syracuse (80-61) struck first thanks to the game's second batter. Center fielder Michael Taylor pummeled an 0-1 pitch from Pawtucket right-hander Matt Barnes over the left-field wall for his first Triple-A home run, giving the Chiefs an early 1-0 advantage.

Pawtucket (78-64) put an answer together immediately in the bottom of the first against Lively. With one out, Justin Henry walked, advanced to second base on a balk and moved to third on an Alex Hassan single. Cleanup hitter Bryce Brentz then scored them both with a two-run double to left field, giving Pawtucket a 2-1 lead.

The Chiefs tied the game off Barnes in the fourth. Taylor reached on a check-swing single to start the frame, stole second base and crossed home on an RBI single to center field from Steven Souza, Jr.

Syracuse broke the deadlock in the fifth. Sandy Leon and Will Rhymes started the inning with singles to right field, bringing up Jeff Kobernus. The Syracuse left fielder laid down a bunt to the right side and beat out the throw from first baseman Alex Hassan for a single, loading the bases with no outs. Barnes then struck out Emmanuel Burriss and Taylor for a pair of outs, but the right-hander threw a wild pitch with Souza batting to score Leon for a 3-2 Syracuse lead. Two pitches later, Souza slammed a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Leon and Rhymes to put the Chiefs up by three.

Lively, meanwhile, turned in a dominant performance after a 34-pitch first. He struck out 11 batters, all between the second and sixth innings, the most for a Syracuse pitcher since Ross Ohlendorf on May 30, 2013.

The Chiefs added an insurance run in the ninth. Designated hitter Greg Dobbs led off the inning with a solo home run, his second with the Chiefs, to up the lead to four runs.

First-place Syracuse returns home on Sunday to face the Buffalo Bisons at 6:30 p.m. Left-hander Raul Valdes will start for Buffalo against a Syracuse pitcher to be announced.