IronPigs clip Chiefs in pitchers' duel

The Syracuse Chiefs were swept by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs after a third consecutive one-run loss at home on Wednesday afternoon. Syracuse squandered Mitch Lively's stellar start and Mark Minicozzi's first home run of the year to drop the final game of the series by a score of 2-1.

The game was a pitchers' duel until the sixth inning. Two Chiefs pitchers and Anthony Vasquez combined to allow only three hits into the fifth inning. Lively, in his first start since game three of the playoffs in September 2014, turned in four outstanding innings for the Chiefs. The right-hander allowed only one hit and struck out four before Erik Davis replaced him in the fifth inning. 

Davis made his first appearance for the Chiefs since being optioned to Triple-A on May 18th. He threw a stellar inning against Lehigh Valley. The right-hander allowed a hit and struck out two in his first appearance back with Syracuse since 2013.

Lehigh Valley (15-26) finally struck first against the Syracuse bullpen in the top of the sixth. Manny Delcarmen entered in relief of Davis and issued a hit to the pitcher Vasquez and a walk to Chase d'Arnaud. Then, Brian Bogusevic reached base on an error by Kila Ka'aihue. Two batters later, Chris McGuiness lined a single to right to plate the first IronPigs run. With the bases loaded, Tyler Henson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to give Lehigh Valley a 2-0 lead.

Syracuse (16-24) answered immediately in the bottom of the sixth. With one out in the inning, Mark Minicozzi lined an opposite-field drive over the right-field wall to cut the IronPigs' lead in half. The solo shot made the score 2-1 at the end of six innings.

Neither team would score again as both bullpens were brilliant. Delcarmen allowed the only two runs for Syracuse in his third loss of the season. The IronPigs' bullpen allowed only two hits and did not surrender a run for three and two-thirds innings to close out the Chiefs and complete the sweep in Syracuse.

After a day off on Thursday, the Chiefs complete the six-game homestand with a three-game series against Indianapolis. The first game of the series will be on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Syracuse sends right-hander Scott McGregor to the mound against right-hander Chris Volstad.