Ka'aihue blast powers Chiefs to victory

Syracuse, NY (5/5/2015) - The Syracuse Chiefs beat the Norfolk Tides in comeback fashion on Tuesday night, winning 2-1. Chiefs pitcher Scott McGregor threw seven innings, only allowing one run. Kila Ka'aihue hit the go-ahead solo home run for the Chiefs in the bottom of the seventh.

 Norfolk (13-13) was first on the board tonight, putting up a run in the top of the fourth. Right fielder Chris Parmelee led off the inning with a double to deep right-center field. After advancing to third on a fielder's choice, catcher Steve Clevenger came to the plate. In only his second at-bat since returning from the disabled list, Clevenger skied a fly ball to Kevin Mattison in left field. Parmelee tagged and Mattison's throw was on line, but struck Parmelee allowing him to score to put the Tides up one.

 Syracuse (11-15) got its first run of the night in the bottom of the sixth. Tides starter Tyler Wilson gave up back-to-back singles to catcher Steve Lerud and Mattison. Shortstop Manny Burriss grounded into a fielder's choice, advancing Lerud to third, but forcing Mattison out at second. With Lerud on third and Burriss on first, right fielder Tony Gwynn, Jr., singled to center, driving in Lerud and evening the score at one.

The Chiefs struck again in the bottom of the seventh. Ka'aihue led off the inning with a solo blast over the right-field fence to give Syracuse a 2-1 advantage. The homerun was Ka'aihue's third of the season.

 Evan Meek came in in relief in the ninth for Eric Fornataro, who pitched one inning in relief for Chiefs starter Scott McGregor. Meek surrendered a leadoff triple to center fielder Dariel Alvarez. Alvarez hit a line drive off the right-field wall that bounced away from Gwynn for a triple. Despite the leadoff triple, Meek got the next two batters out before walking shortstop Paul Janish. Meek clinched the save on the next batter, when he forced left fielder Nolan Reimold into a groundout to second base.

McGregor pitched seven strong innings, allowing only five hits and one run. The right-hander had six strikeouts while only surrendering three walks on the evening.

The Chiefs take on the Tides for the rubber match of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Syracuse will send right-hander Bruce Billings to the mound to face Norfolk right-hander Mike Wright.