Chiefs drop two one-run games to Bats on Tuesday

The Syracuse Chiefs dropped both games of Tuesday's doubleheader to the Louisville Bats, by scores of 4-3 and 6-5. Irving Falu put on strong performances in both games, smacking four hits, including a double and a walk.
Brandon Dixon smashed two home runs in both games. His first came in game one in the top of the second. The third baseman led off the inning with a solo shot off Jacob Turner to deep left-center.
Louisville (42-60) added to its lead in the top of the fourth. Sebastian Elizalde led off the frame with a single to center. Two batters later, Jesse Winker singled to right. Dixon moved the runners over on a groundout. Zach Vincej followed with an infield single to short, bringing in Elizalde and moving Winker to third.

The Bats kept their bats hot in the top of the fifth with a two-out rally. After back-to-back strikeouts, Turner walked Phillip Ervin. He then stole second. Elizalde pummeled Louisville's second homer off Turner with a line drive to right.
Syracuse (35-66) didn't get on the board until the bottom of the fifth, where the Chiefs narrowed the lead to one. The rally began with Alejandro De Aza's single off Jackson Stephens to right to lead off the inning. After Spencer Kieboom struck out, De Aza stole second for the first time this year. Emmanuel Burriss singled to left, moving De Aza to third. Caleb Ramsey replaced Turner at the plate, and plated De Aza on a ground ball. Burriss was thrown out at second while Ramsey reached first on the fielder's choice. Zach Collier picked up his first hit with the Chiefs on a single to left, which deflected off the leg of Stephens. Falu then slashed a double to right, plating both Ramsey and Collier.
Unfortunately for Syracuse, the Chiefs only managed one hit after that from the bat of Brandon Snyder. I.L. Mid-Season All-Star Kevin Shackelford shut the door for his eleventh save of the season.
In game two, Louisville loaded the bases with a single and back-to-back walks off John Simms. Winker scored on a Brandon Dixon sacrifice fly to left. Alex Blandino singled to center, scoring Phillip Ervin. Elizalde was thrown out at third on the play.
In the top of the second, Jesse Winker singled on a line drive to left, scoring Vincej, who had doubled with one out. Ervin followed with a line drive home run to right.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Louisville added to its lead. Dixon picked up his second homer of the day on a blast to left with two outs.
Syracuse grabbed a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Austin Brice replaced Lisalverto Bonilla. With one out, Zach Collier doubled on a liner to right. Bengie González singled in Collier on a liner to center.
The Chiefs made the game close with a big bottom of the sixth after Kyle McMyne replaced Brice. The first four batters reached base with singles from Brandon Snyder, De Aza, and a walk from Michael Almanzar. With the bases loaded, Caleb Ramsey singled to left, plating Snyder. McMyne struck out Jhonatan Solano and Jimmy Herget replaced McMyne. Pinch-hitter Clint Robinson golfed a pop-up to shallow left, short enough to score De Aza and Almanzar. After Benji Gonzalez lined out, Falu reached on an infield single to third. Ramsey scored and Robinson moved to third on a throwing error by Dixon. Neftali Soto lined out to third to end the inning.
Syracuse was again unable to tie the game up in the bottom of the seventh. With outs, Michael Almanzar singled but Ramsey struck out. Herget picked up the save for the Bats.
The Chiefs return to action Wednesday afternoon against the Bats at 12:05. A.J. Cole will pitch for Syracuse and Tyler Mahle is on the hill for Louisville.