Chiefs edge Bisons for 4th straight win
Syracuse (64-71) scored a pair of unearned runs in the third inning against Buffalo (60-77) starter Mark Cohoon. Meyers led off with a single to left field for his first hit of the year. After a fielder's choice that erased Meyers and put Steve Lombardozzi on first, Roger Bernadina hit a ground ball to second base for a potential double play. But Bisons second baseman Luis Hernandez fired an errant throw to second, putting both runners on base.
With runners on first and second, the Chiefs drummed up a successful double steal, advancing Lombardozzi to third and Bernadina to second. Matt Antonelli then grounded out to third, scoring Lombardozzi to put Syracuse on the board first. Jesus Valdez followed with a ground ball single up the middle, scoring Bernadina to make the score 2-0.
It would stay that way until the bottom of the fifth inning, as Meyers tossed five scoreless frames for the Chiefs. But with one out, Jesus Feliciano launched a solo home run to right field, cutting Syracuse's lead in half. Left-hander Doug Slaten then relieved Meyers to record the final two outs of the sixth.
The Chiefs tacked on a seventh-inning run against a trio of Buffalo relievers. Jhonatan Solano led off the frame with a ground-rule double against Cohoon, and pinch-hitter Craig Stammen bunted him to third. After a walk to Lombardozzi, Cohoon was removed for left-hander Mike O'Connor. O'Connor walked Bernadina to load the bases and was promptly removed for right-hander John Lujan, who entered with the bases loaded. Antonelli greeted him with a sacrifice fly to center field, extending the Syracuse lead to 3-1.
The bullpen did the rest of Syracuse thanks to scoreless outings from five total relievers. Lee Hyde recorded the first two outs of the seventh, Zech Zinicola the final out of the seventh and first out of the eighth, and Atahualpa Severino grabbed the last two outs in the eighth inning. Closer Josh Wilkie came on to shut the door in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save of the season in 18 chances.
The Chiefs play the last of 16 games against Buffalo this season on Thursday night at 6:05. Right-hander Yunesky Maya will make his final start of the year for Syracuse against Bisons righty Dylan Owen.