Chiefs fall to Bulls in series finale

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, dropped a 7-1 decision to the Durham Bulls on Tuesday afternoon. The Chiefs fell behind in the first inning and didn't recover against the Bulls, who claimed the final three games of the teams' four-game set.

Durham (18-8) scored its early run against Syracuse right-hander Yunesky Maya with a trio of base runners in the first inning. With one out, Brandon Guyer singled and Wil Myers walked. That brought up designated hitter Leslie Anderson who smacked a run-scoring single to center field, bringing home Guyer for the game's first tally.

The Bulls would add a fourth-inning run thanks in part once again to Anderson. His leadoff single began the frame before Chris Gimenez walked and Vince Belnome bounced into a fielder's choice. With runners on the corners and one out, Tim Beckham's sacrifice fly put Durham ahead by a pair.

Two innings later, the Bulls put the game on ice. Myers led off the sixth inning with a home run deep to left-center field on an 0-2 count, putting the Bulls ahead by three runs. Anderson followed with a double, and three batters later, Maya left the game with two runners on and two outs. After left-hander Fernando Abad was summoned from the bullpen, Bulls third baseman Cole Figueroa bounced a single into right field, scoring Anderson from second base. Catcher Craig Albernaz followed with a two-run double to left field to give the Bulls a 6-0 lead.

Syracuse (9-16), meanwhile, was held in check by the Bulls until the eighth inning. Center fielder Eury Perez started the frame with a single against left-hander Jeff Beliveau on the eighth pitch of his at-bat, bringing up Jeff Kobernus. The Chiefs' left fielder then blasted a double to deep center field, scoring Perez to cut Durham's lead to 6-1. Beliveau, however, would retire the next three hitters to end the frame.

Durham would answer with an extra tally in the ninth. Guyer's RBI triple scored Rich Thompson with one out for the Bulls' final run of the game.

After an off day on Wednesday, the Chiefs will begin a four-game series at Norfolk on Thursday at 6:35. Syracuse right-hander Ryan Perry is scheduled to throw against Tides hurler Jake Arrieta.