Rhymes, Chiefs blast Indians, 6-2

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, topped the Indianapolis Indians, 6-2, on Monday. Starting pitcher Jeff Mandel threw seven strong innings, while Will Rhymes reached base in each of his four plate appearances.

Syracuse broke the scoreless tie with a three-run fourth inning. Corey Brown began the frame with a ground-rule double bouncing over the right-center field wall. After Chris Marrero drew a walk, Will Rhymes stepped to the plate with runners on first and second base. Rhymes launched his third home run of the season, deep over the right-field wall, giving Syracuse a 3-0 lead.

The Chiefs padded their lead in the bottom of the sixth, sending six batters to the plate. Marrero led off the inning with a single into right field. Following a pitching change in which Athaualpa Severino replaced Graham Godfrey, Rhymes walked. Then, Zach Walters belted a double into the right-center field alley, scoring both Marrero and Rhymes, extending the Syracuse lead to 5-0.

Indianapolis would not go down without a fight, though. In the top of the seventh inning, the Tribe rallied with two outs. Felix Pie singled through the right side of the infield, before Kelly Shoppach lined a base hit into left field. With runners on the corners, Ivan DeJesus singled up the middle, plating Pie from third base. The rally ended, though, when Chase d'Arnaud pinch-hit for the pitcher's spot and lined out to first.

The Indians plated one last run in the top of the ninth. With one out and no one on base, Felix Pie lined a home run that snuck over the right-field wall to make the score 6-2.

The Chiefs' pitching staff, led by Mandel, held the Indians' bats to just two runs. Mandel tossed seven innings of one-run ball, striking out six Indianapolis batters. Tyler Robertson followed with a scoreless eighth inning, before Ryan Mattheus pitched the ninth inning.

Syracuse and Indianapolis conclude their four-game series on Tuesday at 7:00. The Chiefs send right-hander Caleb Clay to the mound to face Indians right-hander Stolmy Pimentel.