By PAUL GOTHAM
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Jr. Chiefs did something out of character Tuesday night. Manager Matt Colbert hopes it’s a sign of things to come.
Alex Perry (Salve Regina) delivered as the Jr. Chiefs jumped to an early and never trailed en route to a 6-3 victory over the Syracuse Salt Cats in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Onondaga Community College, Tuesday night.
Perry connected on a two-out single in the first – one of his three hits on the day.
“He left up a fastball,” Perry said. “I just tried to see it deep and put it in play. It ended up being a line drive.”
Tyler Flaherty (Ohio Wesleyan) and Justin Healey (Widener) came around to score on the play as the Jr. Chiefs took a lead in the first – something they have done just once in their previous six games.
“It’s been a while,” Colbert said. “I can’t remember the last time we scored in the first inning.”
For the first-year manager it was important his team gained an early advantage against their cross-town rival.
“They’re a good team,” Colbert said. “They’re a really good team. They pitch it really well. They hit it pretty well…They’re a very vocal team when they’re winning games. We told our guys we kinda have to keep them quiet.”
The win was the second straight for the Jr. Chiefs (10-9) who pulled within a half game of a Salt Cats team (10-8) which was atop the NYCBL’s Eastern Division last week.
“We carried that momentum over,” Perry said of yesterday’s win which snapped a three-game skid. “It was big to jump ahead. We’ve been struggling a little bit.”
Tanner Whiteman (Maryland Eastern Shore) tossed six innings for third win of the season. For the second-year player the effort carried added significance.
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“I struggled against those guys last year,” said Whiteman who finished 0-1 in two appearances against the Salt Cats in 2014. “I’ve had two good outings against them. It’s a huge win. Hopefully, we can take the lead in the next couple of days.”
Whiteman faced the minimum through the first two innings before surrendering two runs on two hits in the third. The Cazenovia, N.Y. native retired the last eight he faced.
“I just settled in,” Whiteman noted. “I was just more relaxed.”
Healey led a three-run third with one of the Jr. Chiefs seven walks on the night.
“I thought our overall approach was good,” Colbert stated. “We really came today having an approach that we need to be patient at the plate and work counts. We did that.”
For the Jr. Chiefs the approach at the plate was a matter of carrying over what they learned earlier in the season when Salt Cat starter, Charles Davis (Northwestern Coll) walked four.
“We knew just by doing our research on his college team that he had more walks than strike outs,” Colbert explained. “Our approach kinda carried over from the first game against him.”
Phil Madonna (Siena) followed Healey with a single to left field. Shane Trevino (IPFW) moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch allowed Healey to score before Perry chased Davis with a RBI single through the left side of the infield.
“I just try load slow and early,” Perry said of his approach at the plate. “Just get my front foot out there and put the ball in play.”
Brian Colbert (Keuka) put runners on the corners with a single. Danny Walczak (Aurora) loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Alex Schutz (St. Bonaventure) singled to left field to make it 5-2 Jr. Chiefs.
The Jr. Chiefs added another run in the fourth. Healey, Madonna and Trevino all walked to load the bases. Brian Colbert brought home a run with a ground ball.
The Salt Cats had the tying run to the plate in the ninth.
Matt Mastroianni (SUNY Oneonta) started the stanza with a single to left. Pinch hitter Johnny Knight IV (Walsh) reached out and slapped an opposite field base hit to right. Brandon Camden (Rutgers-Camden) loaded the bases when he sent a bloop single to center.
But the Salt Cats could not take full advantage.
“We get these games where the other team gets three or four or five on us in one inning and we’re in a lull,” Salt Cats manager Mike Martinez said. “It takes us a little while. It’s getting out of those little funks in the middle of the game and getting more active.”
Christopher Pennell (St. Thomas Aquinas) came out of the bullpen and recorded the final two outs of the game for his league-leading seventh save of the season.
“He’s our guy,” Colbert said. “He knows his role. He comes up to me before the inning and says ‘if a couple of guys get on, I’ll be ready.’ He knew that we were going to go to him if we got in a tight spot, and that’s kinda what happened. There’s no other guy on this team that I’d rather go to in that situation.”
Healey walked three times and scored twice.
Madonna finished 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs.
Brian Colbert and Michael Elfreth (Widener) collected two hits apiece.
Grant Weinmann (U of Louisville) retired all five batters he faced for the Jr. Chiefs.
Lucas Tevlin (Binghamton) went 2-for-3 for the Salt Cats.
Cameron Jack (St. Martin College) came out of the bullpen for the Salt Cats and worked four shutout innings. The right-hander struck out and walked none. Jack came on with bases loaded, no outs and recorded outs with the next three batters.
“For a young guy, he’s a composure guy,” Martinez said. “He throws hard. He knows he throws hard. He can locate. He’s not afraid to grind. He’ll be starting for us.”
The same two teams meet again Wednesday night at Onondaga Community College. A 7 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.
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