Jr. Chiefs keep hold on first with victory over Utica

By Dave Holcomb

ROME, N.Y. – Syracuse’s offensive streak of scoring more than 12 runs per game may have come to an end Tuesday, but the Jr. Chiefs winning streak did not. The team won their fifth straight, this time behind strong pitching, good defense and some timely hitting.

Pitcher Alex Basso received his first start of the season. Jr. Chief fans were curious to see who Manager Casey Scott chose to be his fourth starter after First baseman/Pitcher Kyle Stoudt went down with an injury over a week ago. Basso had appeared in relief just once prior to Tuesday’s start.

Basso pitched six great innings giving up zero runs on five hits. He worked out of jams in the third, fifth and sixth innings stranding runners in scoring position to preserve the shut out.

In the seventh, the bullpen took over for Basso and closed the door. Pitcher Matt Kenahan made his first relief appearance of the season, and Pitcher J.D. Tyler took the mound in the eighth. Each pitcher gave up a run and entering the ninth, the Jr. Chiefs were clinging to a 4-2 lead.

Pitcher Kevin Carroll was able to close the door in the ninth. The half inning became dramatic as the tying run reached second base with Utica’s 3-for-3 First basemen, Andrew McNett, coming to the plate. Carroll got McNett to line out to right field to end the game. Carroll recorded his first save of the season.

In addition to the strong pitching, Syracuse played one of its best defensive games of the season. To end the third inning, Right fielder Dave Wolak made a diving catch to save at least one run. Wolak made his first start in right field this season with Christian Knott playing left field. Zach Lauricella, who just joined the team last Saturday, was the Designated Hitter.

The infield also shined the gloves as Third baseman Tim Locastro made two great plays in the second inning, one of which was a hard line drive right at him that Locastro was able to snag. Second basemen Frank Salerno also made a nice play ranging to his right and throwing across his body to record an out at first.

Even though four runs was the lowest run total for the Jr. Chiefs in their eight games so far this season, Syracuse did extend its streak of scoring in the first inning of every game. Shortstop Alex Sanchez, with two outs and the bases loaded in the first, hit a single into the outfield to score two runs.

Then, in the sixth on two triples from Lauricella and First baseman Ryne Sonberg, Syracuse scored two more runs to make the score 4-0. And for this game, that was enough for the stellar Jr. Chiefs pitching.