Chiefs beat Bisons, win 5th straight

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, continued their winning ways in a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Bisons on Thursday night. The Chiefs extended their winning streak to five, jumping ahead with two first-inning runs and keeping the lead throughout. Starter Yunesky Maya took the win for his third victory in four starts.

Both Syracuse (65-71) and injury struck Buffalo (60-78) in the first inning. Roger Bernadina led off the game with a line drive off of Bisons starter Dylan Owen that bounced into short left field, with Bernadina taking second base on the double. Owen had to then leave the game due to an injury after facing just one batter.

Right-hander Brian Sweeney relieved Owen and allowed a pair of runs to score. After a groundout and a walk, Jesus Valdez drove in one with a one-out sacrifice fly, and Tug Hulett scored a run with a deep double to left-center field.

The Chiefs added a fourth-inning run against right-hander Jack Egbert. Seth Bynum singled and stole second, and Carlos Maldonado followed with a single to right field. After a fly out and a strikeout, Roger Bernadina bounced a single to right field to score Bynum.

But Buffalo struck back with a pair of fourth-inning runs. With one out, Maya walked Valentino Pascucci and allowed a single to Jesus Feliciano. After Luis Hernandez struck out, Salomon Manriquez loaded the bases on an infield single. Raul Reyes then worked a bases-loaded walk for the first Buffalo run, and pinch-hitter Bubba Bell scored another on an infield single to shortstop. But Manriquez was thrown out in between third and home on the play, ending the inning with the Chiefs still leading 3-2.

Syracuse extended its lead further in the middle innings against Buffalo's bullpen. In the fifth inning, Jeff Frazier and Valdez singled to lead off the frame against left-hander Gustavo Chacin. After Hulett sacrificed the runners to second and third, a Bynum groundout put two outs on the board. But Maldonado slammed a two-run double to deep right-center field, putting Syracuse up by a 5-2 score.

The Chiefs would add an extra insurance run in the eighth inning against southpaw Taylor Tankersley. Maldonado walked to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a single by Corey Brown, and moved to third on a J.D. Martin fielders' choice. Newly promoted outfielder Chris Curran then drove in Maldonado with a sacrifice fly, Curran's first Triple-A RBI.

Syracuse heads to Rochester on Friday night to begin a two-game series against the Red Wings at 7:05. Right-hander Craig Stammen will start for the Chiefs against Red Wings righty Tom Stuifbergen.