6/27/07: Chiefs Finally Heat Up

On a muggy night at Alliance Bank Stadium, the Syracuse Chiefs finally started to get as hot as the temperature, dominating all aspects of the game to beat the Charlotte Knights 7-2. Victor Zambrano made the start for Syracuse, and after his 2 run homer he gave up to the third batter of the game, it looked like his bad run, as well as the Chiefs' would continue. Well, things aren't always as they seem. Zambrano went a total of 7 innings, only giving up one more hit, and the bullpen kept the Knights hitless, as the Chiefs pitched a one hitter in the final 8 2/3 innings of the game.

The Chiefs made sure that the intial two runs were not enough, as they broke out of their 3 game batting slump, getting four runs in the first inning. Syracuse loaded the bases before they recorded their first out of the game, but were almost kept off the board. After Chad Mottola struck out for the first out, John Ford Griffin ripped a grounder to second baseman Jason Bourgeois, who boots the ball, which had potential to be a double play, but instead scored Wayne Lydon from third. Next batter was Mike Vento who ripped a two run single, scoring Ryan Roberts and Kevin Barker. The other run scored later, as Ray Olmedo hit a sac fly to score Griffin, giving Syracuse a 4-2 lead. Solo home runs by Barker in the 2nd and Griffin in the 3rd brought the lead to 6-2. In the 6th inning, a throwing error by Jason Bourgeois allowed Ray Olmedo to score, and give us our final score of 7-2.

Andrew Sisco (0-3) started for the Knights and gets the loss, giving up six of the runs in four innings pitched. Only four of those runs were earned. Every starter for the Chiefs picked up a base hit tonight, which is amazing considering there were only ten hits in the game (Barker was the only player with multiple hits). The Chiefs are 7.5 out of first, as the Buffalo Bisons were idle Wednesday night, due to a rainout.

Notes:

Pitcher Yusaku Iriki has been placed on the 7 day disabled list.
Pitcher Ty Taubenheim has been added back to the Chiefs roster, while Brandon League has been sent back to Toronto.