Chiefs stymied by Yankees
The Yankees (1-3) pounced on Chiefs (1-3) starter John Lannan early and never let up. The 27-year old Lannan, who made his first Triple-A start since August of 2007 after spending the better part of the last four seasons with the Nationals, allowed three first-inning runs and two more in the second.
Jack Cust led the way for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 4-for-4 with four RBI. The designated hitter set the tone with a two-run single to right field in the top of the first to score Doug Bernier and Chris Dickerson. Then in the second, Cust singled up the middle with two outs to plate Dickerson, who scored three times on the night.
The left-hander Lannan left the game after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks in two innings.
Meanwhile, Yankees starter DJ Mitchell was masterful. The righty didn't allow a Chiefs runner to reach base through the first three innings. Mitchell exited following five frames of one-hit, one-walk, no-run ball. He threw 61 pitches.
Syracuse stayed within striking distance over the middle innings thanks to reliever Erik Arnesen, who threw four scoreless innings in relief of Lannan. But Scranton/Wilkes-Barre broke the game open in the seventh, when the visitors sent 11 batters up and scored five times - all charged to Rafael Martin.
Third baseman Mark Teahen produced the Chiefs' lone hit of the game in the fifth inning, when he pulled the ball on the ground into right field. Otherwise, all Syracuse could muster was four walks. No Chiefs player advanced past second base.
Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre play game three of their four-game set on Monday evening at 6:00. Chiefs southpaw Zach Duke will make his Syracuse debut versus the Yankees' Adam Warren.