Solano, Cole lead Chiefs past Knights

Syracuse, NY (May 25th, 2016) - The Syracuse Chiefs picked up a series victory over the Charlotte Knights with an 8-3 victory Wednesday night. The Chiefs can sweep the series with a win on Thursday night. Jhonatan Solano drove in five RBIs on two hits in the game.

Charlotte (23-24) scored first in the game. Danny Hayes led of the second inning with a double to the right-center gap off of Syracuse starter A.J. Cole. After Jason Coats walked, Nicky Delmonico turned on a fastball and shot a single into right, plating Hayes for a 1-0 Knights lead. The single was Delmonico's first in a Charlotte uniform after being promoted to Triple-A on Tuesday.

Syracuse (24-20) answered in the bottom half of the second against Charlotte starter Chris Volstad. With one out, Scott Sizemore lofted a 2-0 pitch to deep right field, which fell into the Family Fun Park for a solo home run, tying the game at 1-1. Jason Martinson followed the shot with a single. Caleb Ramsey then walked, putting Chiefs on first and second for Jhonatan Solano. Solano hit a single of his own, scoring Martinson to give Syracuse a 2-1 lead. The throw home went awry, letting Ramsey and Solano to move up to third and second, respectively. Tony Campana then drove in his first run of 2016, plating Ramsey with a groundout to second, giving the Chiefs a 3-1 lead.

Syracuse tallied again in the fifth. With two outs, Matt den Dekker tripled to the left-center-field gap. Matt Skole followed the shot with a single to right which scored den Dekker, giving the Chiefs a 4-1 lead.

The Chiefs tacked on another run in the next frame. Martinson led off the sixth with a single, and later reached second with his third stolen base of the season. After Ramsey's groundout moved Martinson to third, Solano came up to bat with another RBI opportunity. The catcher topped a grounder to third, Martinson scored on the play, and the Syracuse lead moved to 5-1.

A.J. Cole finished his night after six innings of work. Cole scattered five hits, allowing only one earned run and a walk while striking out two. Matt Grace entered the game in the seventh. The first batter he faced was Jason Bourgeois, who drove a double to left. Omar Narvaez followed up with a groundout, moving Bourgeois to third. Tim Anderson followed with another groundout which scored Bourgeois to cut the Syracuse lead to 5-2.

The Chiefs piled on insurance runs in the eighth. With Tyler Barnette on the mound for Charlotte, Skole started the inning with a double. Sizemore was then hit by a pitch, putting the first two runners aboard. Martinson followed with a groundout, moving Skole to third and Sizemore to second. An intentional walk to Ramsey put Solano at the plate. Solano seized the opportunity, doubling into the right-center-field alley, plating all three Chiefs runners for a 8-2 lead.

The Chiefs and Knights meet again Thursday in the series finale. Taylor Hill is scheduled to pitch for Syracuse opposite Anthony Ranaudo for Charlotte. First pitch is set for 6:35.