PawSox walk off against Chiefs, win 2-1

The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, fell to the Pawtucket Red Sox on Friday, 2-1. The Chiefs held an early 1-0 lead, but the PawSox climbed back into the game, and won in the bottom of the ninth.

Syracuse (65-76) wasted no time, scoring the game's first run in the opening inning. Eury Perez led off with a single into left field. Then, with Jeff Kobernus at the plate, Perez stole second base and advanced to third on Lavarnway's throwing error. Kobernus then singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Perez from third and giving the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.

Pawtucket (78-62) answered that lone Syracuse run in the bottom of the fourth. The inning began with a Brandon Snyder single into right field. After Lavarnway grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, Mark Hamilton stepped to the plate with no one on base and two outs. Hamilton began a string of three consecutive singles, starting with his into center field. Bryce Brentz followed with a base hit into left field, moving Hamilton to second. Then, with two runners on and two out, Holt lined a single into center field, scoring Hamilton and tying the game at 1-1.

The scoring hit a stand still, until Pawtucket won the game and the International League North in walk-off fashion. After Erik Davis struck out both Brock Holt and Drew Sutton, Quinton Berry drew a two-out walk. With Justin Henry at the plate, Berry swiped second base. Just two pitches later, Henry single into center field, scoring Berry to win the game, 2-1.

The Chiefs pitching staff pitching great in the loss, though. Jeff Mandel tossed five-plus innings, allowing just one run on six strikeouts. Xavier Cedeno and Davis combined to toss three innings of one-run baseball, while fanning three Red Sox hitters.

Syracuse and Pawtucket conclude their four-game series on Saturday at 6:05. The Chiefs will send right-hander Caleb Clay to the mound to face PawSox right-hander Allen Webster.