Chiefs survive late scare, beat Braves

The Syracuse Chiefs, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, beat the Gwinnett Braves, 5-4, Tuesday night at Coolray Field. The Braves scored two runs in the ninth and put the potential game-winning run on second, but Evan Meek got Daniel Castro to pop out to clinch the victory. 

Bruce Billings turned in another quality start for the Chiefs, allowing just two runs in six innings of work. His outing marked the 10th time in 11 May games that Syracuse's starter has allowed three runs or fewer.

Gwinnett (15-17) held an early 1-0 lead after the first inning. Jose Peraza led off the frame with a single off Billings, stole second, and moved to third on a groundout. He scored on a groundout by Todd Cunningham to give the G-Braves the early lead.

Syracuse (14-18) immediately answered in the next half-inning. Jason Martinson started with a single off Braves starter Sugar Ray Marimon. Syracuse's shortstop came around to score when Kila Ka'aihue singled to right field and Mycal Jones fumbled the ball for an error, advancing Ka'aihue to second. After Steve Lerud singled Ka'aihue to third, Josh Johnson bounced into a double play, which brought in Ka'aihue and gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.

The G-Braves squared the game in the third on Jones' first home run of the season. The solo shot to left field, the only home run of the series to date, tied the game at two.

Syracuse took the lead for good in the fourth, with Martinson and Ka'aihue again starting a productive offensive inning. Martinson walked, followed by a double from Ka'aihue to put runners on second and third. Lerud then singled in Martinson to give the Chiefs a 3-2 lead. Then, in a dose of deja vu, Johnson grounded into a double play, scoring Ka'aihue. The two runs gave the Chiefs a 4-2 lead.

The Chiefs' final run came in the fifth. Matt den Dekker started with a single and stole second base, and Cutter Dykstra walked. A batter later, Darin Mastroianni singled in den Dekker to extend the lead to 5-2.

Evan Meek, who hasn't blown a Triple-A save, since 2012 survived a scare in the ninth. Adonis Garcia singled to start the inning off the Chiefs' closer. Two batters later, Barrett Kleinknecht walked to put runners on first and second. Meek then surrendered back-to-back doubles to Braeden Schlehuber and Jones, bringing home two runs, and putting the potential tying run on third. After a strikeout of Matt Kennelly, Meek intentionally walked Peraza to load the bases and bring up Castro. The right-hander induced a pop out from the G-Braves shortstop, ending the threat and the game.

The Chiefs can clinch a series win Wednesday in the third game of a four-game set. Taylor Jordan gets the ball for Syracuse opposite Manny Banuelos for Gwinnett. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.