Bisons run past Chiefs, 5-2

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, gave up five runs in the third and fourth innings en route to a 5-2 loss at Buffalo on Wednesday night. The Bisons laced three triples and two doubles in the game, knocking out Chiefs starter Erik Arnesen after just three and one-third innings.

Syracuse (10-16) did take an early lead against Buffalo right-hander Matt Harvey in the game. A Brett Carroll walk was sandwiched in between two outs in a seemingly innocuous second inning, but red-hot third baseman Carlos Rivero ripped an RBI double to left-center field, scoring Carroll for the game's first run. Rivero, 2 for 3 in the game, now has 10 hits in his last 19 at-bats.

The Chiefs tallied a second run with a third-inning score. Corey Brown singled with one out, and after a fielder's choice groundout from Josh Johnson, Mark Teahen ripped a two-out, two-strike single to score Brown.

Syracuse took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the third, but Buffalo (15-11) answered immediately against Arnesen. After a Rob Johnson single, shortstop Omar Quintanilla ripped a line drive over Mark Teahen's glove at first base and down the line for an eventual run-scoring triple. Harvey, the opposing starting pitcher, then hit a drive to deep center field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Quintanilla to even the game at two.

In the fourth, the Bisons ignited their offense for the eventual game-winning runs. Fred Lewis started the frame with a double to center field, and Zach Lutz walked to put two runners on base. Center fielder Dustin Martin then roped a single to right field, scoring Lewis for a 3-2 Buffalo lead. Martin would be thrown out at second base on the play, but the Bisons' rally continued with Rob Johnson. The catcher slammed the very next pitch up the alleyway in left-center field for a triple, plating Lutz for a two-run Bisons lead. After an intentional walk to Quintanilla and a brief rain delay, right-hander Rafael Martin entered to face pinch-hitter Josh Satin, who bounced into a run-scoring fielder's choice on Martin's first pitch. Martin would exit the inning without allowing another run, but Buffalo left the frame with a 5-2 lead.

The Bisons bullpen would take care of the rest. Left-hander Justin Hampson allowed just one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings and right-hander Jack Egbert tossed a perfect eighth. Fernando Cabrera then closed the game out with a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save in five tries.

The Chiefs and Bisons will tangle on Thursday in the third game of a four-game series. Syracuse is scheduled to send right-hander Mitch Atkins to the mound against Bisons hurler Jeurys Familia.