Bats clip Chiefs' rally, win 3-2 in finale

Severino and Espino drive in lone Syracuse runs

June 9, 2016

Syracuse, NY (June 9th, 2016) - The Syracuse Chiefs fell to the Louisville Bats, 3-2, Thursday night in the final game of a six-game homestand. The Chiefs ended up splitting the series with Louisville, heading into a six-game road trip with the Bats and Indianapolis Indians.

Syracuse (29-29) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning against Dayan Diaz. With one out, Matt den Dekker singled, giving the Chiefs their first baserunner of the night. Scott Sizemore and Caleb Ramsey then earned back-to-back walks to load the bases for Pedro Severino. Severino laced a single to right field, plating den Dekker and giving the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. Syracuse starter Paolo Espino then came to the plate. Espino hit a ground ball to Louisville second baseman Jose Peraza, who threw to second for a force out. Shortstop Juan Perez' throw to first was late, extending the inning and scoring Sizemore to give Syracuse a 2-0 lead.

Louisville (30-30) responded in the next half-inning. Hernan Iribarren started the frame with a soft single to center field. Scott Schebler then continued his solid series against the Chiefs by lining a single into right field, moving Iribarren all the way to third. Brandon Allen then drove an Espino fastball over the wall in right-center for a three-run homer, giving the Bats a 3-2 lead.

Paolo Espino finished his night on the mound after six innings. He gave up seven hits and three earned runs while striking out two and walking one. Abel De Los Santos, Bryan Harper and Nick Masset all worked a scoreless inning in relief for Syracuse.

For Louisville, Diaz threw just two innings in his spot start. He allowed two earned runs on two hits while striking out one. Matt Magill, Chad Rogers and Wandy Peralta all followed Diaz in relief on the mound. All three pitched two scoreless innings.

Jumbo Diaz entered in the ninth to earn the save for Louisville. He immediately ran into trouble, walking den Dekker and allowing a sacrifice bunt to Sizemore. Ramsey followed with a ground-ball single up the middle into center field. den Dekker, however, ran through Brian Daubach's stop sign at third base and ended up in a rundown, where third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean tagged him out. Diaz recovered, striking out Severino to end the game.

The Chiefs begin a six-game road trip Friday when they travel to Indianapolis for a three-game set against the Indians. A.J. Cole is scheduled to start for the Chiefs opposite Chad Kuhl for the Indians. First pitch for game one in the series is set for 7:15.