Tides edge Walters, Chiefs, 5-4
The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, lost 5-4 to the Norfolk Tides on Monday night from Harbor Park. Syracuse grabbed the game's final four runs, but an early pair of home runs gave the Tides a lead they would not relinquish.
Norfolk (29-42) struck early in the bottom of the first inning against right-hander James Simmons. Julio Borbon singled to lead off the frame, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Jhonatan Solano. Right fielder Quintin Berry followed with an RBI double to the left-center field gap for a 1-0 Tides lead. Two batters later, first baseman Brett Wallace drove a two-run home run over the right-field wall to give Norfolk a three-run advantage.
The Tides went deep again in the second. After an Ivan DeJesus single started the home half of the second, third baseman Buck Britton drove a 1-0 offering over the fence in right field for a two-run home run, giving Norfolk a 5-0 lead.
Syracuse (40-30) answered with a long ball of its own in the top of the third. Will Rhymes started the inning with a double against Tides right-hander Suk-min Yoon. Three batters later, left fielder Zach Walters smashed a two-run home run to right field on a first pitch from Yoon. The homer, Walters' eighth in 29 games, cut the lead to 5-2.
The Chiefs grabbed another run against Yoon in the fifth inning. Rhymes started the frame with his second straight leadoff double. He advanced to third base on a Josh Johnson groundout and scored on a groundout from Emmanuel Burriss, slicing the deficit to 5-3.
Syracuse's next rally came in the ninth against Tides right-hander Preston Guilmet. Tyler Moore started the inning with a double down the left-field line. Two batters later, right fielder Jose Lozada drove in Moore with a single to center field in Lozada's first game off the Disabled List since May 25th. After Brock Peterson grounded out to Guilmet, advancing Lozada to second base with two outs, Rhymes grounded out to shortstop to conclude an 11-pitch at-bat and give the Tides the win.
The Chiefs and Tides resume their series on Tuesday night at 7:05. Syracuse right-hander Blake Treinen is scheduled to throw against Norfolk right-hander Mike Wright.