Allentown, PA (May 2, 2018) - Hunter Jones had three hits, including two triples and two RBIs, but the Syracuse Chiefs surrendered five home runs and fell to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 8-6, on Wednesday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park, preventing Syracuse's first ever sweep in Allentown.
Allentown, PA (May 2, 2018) - Hunter Jones had three hits, including two triples and two RBIs, but the Syracuse Chiefs surrendered five home runs and fell to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 8-6, on Wednesday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park, preventing Syracuse's first ever sweep in Allentown.
Entering the top of the eighth inning, Syracuse (14-9) came to the plate with the game tied, 5-5. With one out, Irving Falu doubled to right-center field. Falu tagged up and moved to third base on a Matt Hague fly out to center. Spencer Kieboom followed with a bloop single to center that scored Falu to put the Chiefs in front, 6-5.
Lehigh Valley (12-12) answered right back and took its first lead of the game and the series in the bottom of the eighth. After John Simms had retired the first eight batters he faced, Dylan Cozens hit his third home run of the game, becoming the first player to hit three home runs in a game in IronPigs history. This one was a solo homer to right field on the first pitch of the at bat, tying the game, 6-6. Joey Meneses followed with a single and Andrew Pullin then homered over the right-field wall on a 3-2 pitch, giving the IronPigs an 8-6 lead en route to the win.
The Chiefs jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Jones led off with a triple to left-center field. After a Jacob Wilson walk put runners on first and third base, José Marmolejos grounded into a fielder's choice where Wilson was out at second, but Jones scored for a 1-0 Chiefs edge.
Syracuse added to its lead in the top of the second. Kieboom started the inning with a double and Michael Almanzar singled to put runners on first and third. Two batters later, Bengie González singled to score Almanzar from second to make it 2-0. Jones then tripled for the second time in the game, this this time bringing home both Fedde and Gonzalez to put Syracuse up 4-0. Wilson followed with a single, scoring Jones for a 5-0 Chiefs advantage.
Lehigh Valley trimmed into the Syracuse lead in the bottom of the second. With one out, Cozens hit a home run over the left-center field wall to cut the Chiefs' edge to 5-1. Meneses followed with a home run on the next pitch to make it a 5-2 ballgame.
The IronPigs tied the game in the third. With two outs, Danny Ortiz doubled to right field. Ortiz scored on a Mitch Walding double to trim the Syracuse edge to two, 5-3. Cozens followed with another home run, knotting the game, 5-5.
Syracuse continues its seven-day road trip on Thursday night with the opening game of a four-game series against the Buffalo Bisons. RHP Edwin Jackson will pitch for the Chiefs, while RHP Taylor Guerrieri will be on the mound for the Bisons. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
