Rodriguez and Chiefs push past Stripers, 8-1, to win series

Syracuse, NY (August 12, 2018) - The Syracuse Chiefs scored seven runs with two outs on Sunday afternoon en route to an 8-1 victory against the Gwinnett Stripers at NBT Bank Stadium. Chiefs starting pitcher Jefry Rodriguez struck out a career-high 11 batters in six innings while allowing an unearned run en route to the win.

Gwinnett (55-61) scored early with a run in the top of the first inning. Luis Marté led off with a single. Xavier Avery then grounded a ball to second base. Adrían Sanchez made a diving play defensively for Syracuse but his throw to second base was errant, allowing Marte to reach second and Avery to get to first on the fielder's choice with an error against Sanchez. Austin Riley then walked to load the bases. Carlos Franco followed with a fielder's choice groundout to short, scoring Marte for a 1-0 Stripers lead.

Syracuse (51-68) took the lead in the bottom of the first off Gwinnett starter Andres Santiago. With two outs, Matt Reynolds and José Marmolejos both walked, putting runners at first and second base. Moisés Sierra followed with a double to left-center field that scored both Reynolds and Marmolejos to give Syracuse a 2-1 edge.

The Chiefs added a run in the second. Chris Dominguez walked to begin the frame. Tuffy Gosewisch followed with a double into the left-field corner, plating Dominguez to extend the Chiefs lead to 3-1.

Syracuse broke the game open in the third. Reynolds doubled and advanced to third on a Marmolejos fly out to center field. Two batters later, Sanchez walked, placing runners at first and third. Dominguez then walked, and ball four to Dominguez was a wild pitch that brought home Reynolds from third for a 4-1 Chiefs advantage while Sanchez moved to third on the play. Gosewisch was then intentionally walked to lead the bases with two outs. Rodriguez followed with a line-drive single to right field, scoring Sanchez and Dominguez for a 6-1 lead.

In the fourth, the Chiefs had runners on the corners after back-to-back singles with one out by Reynolds and Marmolejos. Two batters later, Sanchez singled home Reynolds from third to make it a 7-1 ballgame.

Syracuse scored again in the fifth. Gosewisch doubled to begin the frame, moved to third on a Rodriguez groundout to short, and scored on a Victor Robles sacrifice fly to center field, pushing the Syracuse lead to seven, 8-1.

The Chiefs now hit the road for a seven-game road trip that begins on Monday night in Toledo against the Mud Hens. RHP Kyle McGowin will be on the mound for Syracuse opposite RHP Warwick Saupold for Toledo. First pitch is schedule for 7:05 p.m.