By Dave Holcomb
Syracuse wins with CF Zach Blanden scoring twice and driving in two runs and LF Christian Knott singling in the 9th with the bases loaded.
Cicero, N.Y.—Sitting in first place with a record of 6-2 before Wednesday’s game, there was just one team the Jr. Chiefs had not beaten yet this season and that was the visiting Geneva Red Wings. Geneva came into the game with a 5-4 record hoping to gain a game on first place Syracuse.
As the teams entered the ninth inning, it looked as if the Red Wings would gain that game in the standings. But leading off the inning for the Jr. Chiefs was center fielder Zach Blanden.
Blanden had already knocked in two runs with his double back in the fifth inning. Later in the inning, he also scored as Syracuse rallied from five behind to tie the game 5-5.
Now trailing 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth, Blanden knew his team was counting on him to start the inning.
“I knew I had to get on anyway I could,” said Blanden.
The Syracuse center fielder ended up popping a fastball from Geneva’s closer Bryan Jagielo behind first base into shallow right field. It wasn’t the prettiest of base hits, but no one from Geneva was able to make the play, and Blanden reached with a single.
“I was sitting off-speed, and I got an off-speed pitch,” said Blanden partially chuckling. “I didn’t get a real good swing on it, but I guess I got a good enough swing on it to get on.”
With Blanden aboard, the table was set for the Jr. Chiefs to tie the game just as the lineup turned over for leadoff man Frank Salerno. Salerno reached on a bunt single, and then in an obvious bunting situation, Right Fielder Brian Witkowski bunted the ball down the third base line. Whether it was intended to be a hit or not, Witkowski beat out the throw to first for another bunt single.
That would load the bases for the dangerous three-hitter Christian Knott. The left fielder had yet to get a hit in the game and with the infield playing in, a hit reaching the outfield was required to score a run. But in his at-bat, Knott fell behind early.
“I got down early 0-2, so I really choked up and just tried to stay as short as possible to get the ball through the infield,” said Knott.
After fouling one pitch off, Knott did find a whole in the infield barreling the ball right up the middle. Blanden scored easily from first to tie the game, and then Salerno beat the throw from center to score the winning run.
With the win, the Jr. Chiefs extended their winning streak to six games. The team has also won different ways in each of its past three games. On Saturday, Syracuse blew out Adirondack scoring 15 runs, Tuesday they won a close pitching duel 4-2 against Utica, and then Wednesday Syracuse won dramatically coming from behind versus Geneva. Knott believes the last victory was the most important of all the wins of the winning streak.
“You never know what you’re made of until you’re tested from behind,” said Knott. “We showed some heart today. It was pretty cool.”
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