Bisons sweep Chiefs in doubleheader

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, dropped both games of a doubleheader against the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday night. After a 4-3 loss in the first game, the Chiefs dropped a 5-4, eight-inning decision in game two, with Ryan Goins' RBI single providing the winning second-game run for Buffalo.

In the twin bill's first game, right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and Justin Germano each got off to a superb start, tossing four shutout innings apiece. But Buffalo (7-4) finally got to Ohlendorf in the fifth inning. With two outs and no one on, Jim Negrych and Anthony Gose lined singles on back-to-back pitches, before right fielder Moises Sierra poked an RBI single to right field, scoring Negrych for the game's first run. Gose then scored on a wild pitch with Mauro Gomez at the plate, giving Buffalo a 2-0 lead. After walks to Gomez and Luis Jimenez, left fielder Ryan Langerhans lined a single into right field, putting the Bisons ahead by four runs.

One inning later, Syracuse (6-6) answered against Germano. With one out, ninth-place hitter and catcher Carlos Maldonado blooped a 1-2 pitch into left for a single. After second baseman Will Rhymes followed with a single, center fielder Jeff Kobernus lined a double to deep right field, plating Maldonado for the Chiefs' first run. Third baseman Mike Costanzo then followed with a single to right field that scored both Rhymes and Kobernus, slicing the Buffalo lead to 4-3. That would end Germano's night, with right-hander Neil Wagner entering the game and hitting Chris Marrero with his third pitch. But Wagner extinguished the rally when Jimmy Van Ostrand bounced into a double play, before the Buffalo right-hander tossed a perfect seventh inning.

In game two, Buffalo got on the board first with three successive two-out hits in the top of the second inning. After consecutive singles from Mike Nickeas and Eugenio Velez, Goins ripped a single into center field, scoring Velez to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead.

Syracuse (6-6) answered right away with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. After singles from Van Ostrand and Carlos Rivero, Jerad Head knocked a base hit into left field, scoring Van Ostrand and tying the game at 1-1. The following at-bat, catcher Jeff Howell nailed a double into left that plated Rivero. Head attempted to score on the play but was thrown out at home plate as Howell advanced to third on the throw. After a Rhymes walk, Kobernus singled to third base to take a 3-1 lead.

The Bisons struck again in the top of the third, when Gose led off the inning with a walk. Gomez, the 2012 International League MVP, then stepped to the plate and belted his third home run of the season over the left-field wall, tying the game at three. The Bisons took the lead after Goins scored from third base on a passed ball.

Syracuse knotted the score up once again on wild series of events in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a Rivero single, Head's bunt was fielded by pitcher Brad Lincoln and overthrown down the first-base line. With runners on the corners, Howell grounded into a fielder's choice, with Rivero being cut down at home on the play as Howell advanced to second base. Rhymes then skied a pitch to right field that Langerhans caught. His throw to third would double up Howell, but not before Head crossed the plate to tie the game at four.

The Bisons' eventual game-winning run would come in the top of the eighth inning. Velez began the rally by reaching on a Chris Marrero error with one out. Velez then stole second before Goins' two- out single brought him home to take the lead, 5-4.

Syracuse and Buffalo will complete their four-game series at 12:00 noon on Thursday afternoon. Right-hander Tanner Roark is set to make his third start of the season for the Chiefs. He'll face Bisons hurler Edgar Gonzalez.