Chiefs beat Indians, win third straight

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, beat the Indianapolis Indians, 5-1, on Tuesday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Second baseman Zach Walters hit a solo home run in his first home game since returning to the Chiefs on May 27th.  

Syracuse (33-25) struck first in the bottom of the first inning off right-hander Jake Brigham. After an Emmanuel Burriss groundout, Walters crushed a 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a solo home run. Two batters later, first baseman Brock Peterson singled to right field. Left fielder Destin Hood drove a 1-1 delivery from Brigham off the center-field wall to score Peterson and record his first Triple-A triple.

Indianapolis (34-24) would respond in the top of the fifth inning against right-hander Taylor Hill. Center fielder Mel Rojas Jr. singled to right field, shortstop Blake Davis flew out, and pitcher Jake Brigham singled to put runners on the corners for right fielder Gregory Polanco. The Pirates' top prospect hit a sharp ground ball to Burriss, who tried to turn a double play, but the throw to first was too late as Rojas scored to trim the Syracuse lead to 2-1.

The Chiefs would another run in the bottom of the sixth inning off Brigham. Peterson and third baseman Brandon Laird walked to put two runners on base. With two outs in the inning, center fielder Brian Goodwin doubled to deep left field to score Peterson and increase the Chiefs' lead to 3-1.

Syracuse would score again in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Wirfin Obispo. With two outs and nobody on base, right fielder Steven Souza Jr. stepped to the plate, after hitting a single earlier in the game. The right-handed slugger crushed the third pitch he saw from Obispo to deep left-center field and over the wall for his seventh four-bagger of the season.

The Chiefs would tack on another run in the bottom of the eighth inning off right-hander Josh Wall. Hood led off with a single, stole second base and advanced to third on a Laird fly out. Two batters later Goodwin walked to put runners on the corners and stole second base with catcher Sandy Leon at the plate. During the Leon at-bat, the ball bounced off catcher Tony Sanchez's glove and rolled into the Indians' dugout to score Hood on a passed ball.

The Chiefs will continue the four-game series with the Indianapolis Indians starting Wednesday night at 7:00. Right-hander Josh Roenicke will start for Syracuse against Indians right-hander Jay Jackson.