Solano's pinch-hit single delivers Chiefs walkoff win
Both teams tallied a couple runs early on before the offenses bogged down. Buffalo jumped in front 1-0 in the first on Fernando Martinez' two-out RBI single. They tacked on another run in the second when Jesus Feliciano blooped another two-out single to center that scored Raul Chavez.
But it didn't take long for the Chiefs to cut into that lead. Jeff Frazier started the bottom of the second with a solo blast over the left-center field wall that extended his hit streak to 10 games.
One inning later, Syracuse evened the score. Matt Antonelli blasted a one-out double off the right field wall, and Chris Marrero brought him home with a double of his own to knot the game at 2-2.
After giving up two runs in the first two innings, Chiefs righty Yunesky Maya dominated through the rest of his start. He gave up two more singles in the third, but held the Bisons without a base runner in his final three innings. Maya gave up seven hits, struck out eight and allowed just two runs through six innings of work.
The Chiefs threatened to break the tie through the middle of the game but struggled to bring players home. They loaded the bases in the fifth against Buffalo starter Mark Cohoon, but Jeff Frazier struck out looking to end the frame.
Syracuse's best opportunity came in the sixth. Cohoon started the inning for Buffalo but exited after hitting Corey Brown with a pitch and walking Carlos Maldonado. Pinch hitter Tommy Milone then moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt off reliever John Lujan. But after Steve Lombardozzi grounded out, Carlos Maldonado was caught off of second on the same play. That forced Brown to leave third, and he was tagged out to end the inning.
Chiefs relievers Jeff Mandel and Atahualpa Severino held the Bisons to two singles through the ninth as the score remained tied 2-2. Syracuse again threatened in the ninth with back-to-back two out singles, but Buffalo righty Dale Thayer sent the game to extras with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
Buffalo appeared ready to take the lead in the 10th when Feliciano started the frame with a triple off the right-center field wall. But Chiefs reliever Josh Wilkie got out of the jam with a strikeout and two flyouts to keep the game tied.
Syracuse next threatened in the 11th. The Chiefs loaded the bases with two outs against Michael O'Connor thanks to a single and two walks. Solano then ripped the game-winning hit to the right field corner that scored Lombardozzi for the 3-2 win.
The Chiefs and Bisons travel to Buffalo for their third straight matchup Wednesday at 7:05. Righthander Craig Stammen will toe the rubber for Syracuse against Buffalo righty Dylan Owen.