Chiefs lose to Red Sox, fall behind 2-0 in semis

The Syracuse Chiefs fell behind early in an eventual 8-2 loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox in Game Two of the Governor's Cup Semifinals on Thursday night from McCoy Stadium. Pawtucket took a 3-0 lead after an inning and never trailed, giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Syracuse will return home on Friday night, with the Chiefs needing to win three consecutive games to advance to the Governor's Cup Finals.

Pawtucket grabbed a first-inning lead with five base runners against right-hander Scott McGregor. Jackie Bradley, Jr. started the frame with a single and Justin Henry followed with a four-pitch walk. Two batters later, first baseman Travis Shaw shot an opposite-field double to left field, scoring Bradley for a 1-0 lead. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway grounded out to third base, plating Henry for the second run, before third baseman Garin Cecchini shot a single between third base and shortstop to score Shaw for a 3-0 Pawtucket advantage.

That score held until a Red Sox rally in the sixth against left-hander Felipe Rivero, making his Triple-A debut. Shaw walked to start the inning, and two batters later, Cecchini singled him to second base. After the runners each advanced one base on a balk, designated hitter Ryan Roberts smashed a two-run double to left-center field, advancing the Red Sox' lead to 5-0. Deven Marrero completed the inning's scoring two batters later with an RBI single.

After Pawtucket grabbed another pair of runs in the seventh against Tyler Herron, the Chiefs launched a rally in the eighth against the Red Sox' bullpen. With one out, Will Rhymes singled, Jeff Kobernus walked and Emmanuel Burriss walked to load the bases against right-hander John Ely. After a Michael Taylor strikeout, Brandon Laird walked to force in a run. Right-hander Miguel Celestino entered, but the Chiefs continued the walk parade on a Destin Hood base-on-balls, forcing in Kobernus to cut the score to 8-2. Jhonatan Solano, however, flied out to deep center field to end the threat.

The Chiefs look to stay alive in Game Three against the Red Sox on Friday at 7 p.m. Right-hander Mitch Lively, who struck out a Syracuse-season-high 11 batters on Saturday, will oppose Pawtucket left-hander Henry Owens.