Pettyjohn Terrific But Herd Fall, 1-0
Syracuse managed only five hits all game prior to the ninth-inning rally. Seth Bynum ignited the rally with a single to left field off Adam Bostick and Ian Desmond capped the rally with a single of his own to left scoring Bynum and snapping the Herd's three-game winning streak.
The loss spoils a terrific pitching performance from Bisons starter Adam Pettyjohn, who locked horns with Chiefs' starter Marco Estrada in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel.
Pettyjohn needed only 83 pitches (57 strikes) to get through seven scoreless innings. Last year's IL wins leader allowed just five hits, struck out three and did not walk a batter all evening long. He was pulled in favor of a pinch-hitter as his spot in the order was due to lead off the eighth inning.
Perhaps the reason for Pettyjohn's success was the way he commanded the strike zone and got ahead of Chiefs' hitters. Pettyjohn threw first pitch strikes to 21 of the 26 batters he faced Tuesday night as he was able to get ahead and make Syracuse hitters chase his off-speed pitches.
Meanwhile, Estrada matched Pettyjohn pitch-for-pitch and then some, throwing eight shutout innings against the Herd. He scattered five hits, struck out six and walked just two over his 102-pitch performance. The Bisons haven't had much luck against Estrada this season, scoring just four runs in 25 innings against the 26-year-old right-hander.
The Bisons best opportunity to score came in the fourth inning when Javier Castillo and Robinson Cancel singled to begin the frame but Cancel was thrown out trying to take second base. Estrada walked Pettyjohn to put runners at the corners with one out but Argenis Reyes bounced into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play to end the threat.
The Herd failed to mount any threat after the fourth as they left just six runners on base and went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
The Bisons and Chiefs play the last of the short two-game set at Alliance Bank Stadium, Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.
BISONS NOTES:
INF Luis Rivera rejoins the Bisons after a short stint at St. Lucie (A) (7G, 2-for-20). Rivera hit .313 in 27 games with the Herd from June 3 to July 19... OF Chip Ambres extended his hit streak to 10 games with a base hit in the fourth inning.