Syracuse, NY (July 4, 2018) - Tuffy Gosewisch launched a grand slam in a five-run fifth inning to help the Syracuse Chiefs beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 9-2, Wednesday night on Independence Day at NBT Bank Stadium. In front of a crowd of nearly 9,000, the Chiefs tallied nine runs
Syracuse, NY (July 4, 2018) - Tuffy Gosewisch launched a grand slam in a five-run fifth inning to help the Syracuse Chiefs beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 9-2, Wednesday night on Independence Day at NBT Bank Stadium. In front of a crowd of nearly 9,000, the Chiefs tallied nine runs for the second time in three games, and Brady Dragmire was stellar in seven innings on the mound.
LISTEN: Audio Highlights - SYR 9, LHV 2
Lehigh Valley (48-36) got on the board in the top of the first inning. With one out, Ryan Goins doubled. Mitch Walding followed with a triple to right-center that scored Goins for a 1-0 IronPigs lead. Joey Meneses followed with a groundout to short that brought home Walding to give Lehigh Valley a 2-0 edge. Dragmire would allow just two more hits the rest of the way.
Syracuse (36-48) struck on offense in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Matt Reynolds walked, Yadiel Hernandez singled, and Moisés Sierra worked a walk to load the bases. Gosewisch then pounded a pitch high over the left-field wall for a grand slam that put the Chiefs in front, 4-2. Dragmire followed with a single, moved to second base on a wild pitch, and scored on an Andrew Stevenson single to center field, giving Syracuse a 5-2 lead.
The Chiefs added three runs in the seventh. With Irving Falu at third base and two outs, Jacob Wilson was at the plate. After a pitch to Wilson, Falu broke for home plate once Lehigh Valley catcher Logan Moore threw the ball back to pitcher Ranfi Casimiro. Falu slid home safely to give Syracuse a 6-2 advantage. Wilson then walked, José Marmolejos reached base on an error, and Reynolds walked to load the bases. Hernandez followed with a two-run double to left-center field, that scored Wilson and Marmolejos to make it an 8-2 ballgame.
Syracuse added a run in the eighth. Gosewisch singled and Falu walked to put runners at first and second. Stevenson grounded into a fielder's choice where Falu was out at second, but Stevenson was safe at first and Gosewisch moved to third. Adrían Sanchez followed with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Gosewisch for a 9-2 Chiefs lead.
The Chiefs and IronPigs conclude this four-game home-and-home series Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at NBT Bank Stadium. RHP Phillips Valdez is scheduled to start for Syracuse opposite RHP Enyel De Los Santos for Lehigh Valley.