Chiefs knock around Bisons in 14-6 rout
The Bisons fell to the Syracuse Chiefs Thursday night 14-6. A tied game ending into the top of the eighth inning ended with a two-out, seven run rally for Syracuse, with every Chiefs' hitter scoring at least once in the game by the end of the frame.
In the top of the eighth, Chiefs' right fielder Caleb Ramsey knocked home a pair of runs with a two-run double to give Syracuse a 7-5 lead. Five more runs came across to score against Dustin Antolin and Bobby Korecky in the inning, with Syracuse also scoring twice more in the ninth.
"That was Antolin's first hiccup and it just exploded on us," manager Gary Allenson said postgame.
In his first start of the season at Coca-Cola Field, Drew Hutchison struggled early. The righty surrendered two solo home runs in the first inning to Brian Goodwin and Matt Skole, before allowing a two-run double to Trea Turner in the second.
Junior Lake connected for three-run home run in the bottom of the second. Later in the fifth inning, Andy Burns tied up the score at four with his ninth double of the year. Lake gave the Herd the lead in the sixth with a RBI single, though the lead did not last long. Brian Goodwin knotted up the score at five with a run-scoring single of his own in the top of the seventh.
Hutchison worked into and out of trouble in the fifth, stranding runners on first and third. He exited after allowing five hits, three walks and four earned runs, while throwing 103 pitches. He was relieved by Colt Hynes, who retired all five batters he faced.
"We just couldn't hold on," Allenson said. "Hutch, five innings, 103 pitches, it's too many pitches. I think we've gone through probably five straight starts were the starting pitcher in the first inning has thrown 20+ pitches, and that hurts."
The ball was carrying well on Thursday night, with several deep fly balls. Matt Dominguez, Casey Kotchman and Andy Burns provided Bisons' fans with defensive highlights. In his first game back after a stint with the Blue Jays, Dominguez dove to his left at third base to throw out Jason Martinson in the third inning. In the sixth, Kotchman robbed Brendan Ryan of an infield hit with a dive of his own, tossing the ball to a covering Colt Hynes to record the out. Finally, Burns made a diving grab in left in the top of the ninth, taking away a Trea Turner hit.
"The ball was carrying as good as I've ever seen it carry in this ballpark," Allenson said.
Syracuse's Isaac Ballou also supplied a web gem, laying out in left center to rob Domonic Brown of a potential RBI extra base hit in the fifth inning.
The Bisons have now lost three straight ballgames, and remain last in the International League North Division, with a 11-16 record.
Game two of the four game set between the Bisons and Chiefs is set for 6:05 p.m. on Friday. Scott Diamond will go for Buffalo, looking for his first win since April 14. Fellow lefthander Aaron Laffey is scheduled to take the mound for Syracuse.
BISONS NOTES:
The Bisons announced a series of roster moves before Thursdays game. Matt Dominguez rejoined the club after he was optioned by the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Reliever Bobby Korecky was activated off the disabled list… Lefty Pat McCoy was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to May 4, due to a concussion. Pitcher Colt Hynes was called up from Double-A New Hampshire, while infielder Jon Berti was transferred to the Fisher Cats… Casey Kotchman's single in the fourth now results in him reaching base in 17 of his 21 games played in 2016… The seven runs allowed by the Bisons in the top of the eighth inning are the most the team has allowed in a given inning this season, passing the five runs surrendered in the eighth inning of the April 24 game against Rochester.