The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, won their first game against Toledo this season with a 8-3 victory over the Mud Hens on Monday night. The Chiefs used a combination of balanced hitting and strong pitching and rode an early lead all the way through for the win.
Syracuse (48-60) scored individual runs in three of the first four innings, with two coming on home runs. In the first inning, Roger Bernadina launched a home run to right field in his first Triple-A game since April 6. Bernadina officially joined the Chiefs today after being optioned down from Washington.
In the third inning, Matt Antonelli's solo home run gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. The home run was Antonelli's fourth of the year. Syracuse added an unearned run in the fourth inning when Chris Marrero singled, went to third on starter Andrew Oliver's throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and scored on Tug Hulett's sacrifice fly.
Right-hander Brad Meyers made his first Syracuse start since June 30 and shut out Toledo (52-59) through four and two-thirds innings. Meyers allowed just two hits, walking five and striking out six. Left-hander Evan Bronson relieved Meyers to get the final out of the fifth and subsequent victory in his Triple-A debut.
The Chiefs broke the game wide open in the middle innings against Oliver and reliever Luis Marte. In the fifth inning, Syracuse strung together three hits and two walks for three runs. Marrero's RBI single and Jesus Valdez's two-run single put the Chiefs ahead 6-0.
In the sixth inning, Antonelli's RBI double and Steve Lombardozzi's RBI single gave Syracuse an 8-0 advantage. Antonelli knocked in multiple runs in one game for the first time since June 29.
Toledo rallied against Bronson in the seventh. Argenis Diaz walked before Max St. Pierre and Will Rhymes each singled. Brandon Inge then ripped a three-run double to center field to make the score 8-3. But Bronson induced two groundouts sandwiched around a walk to escape the inning.
Syracuse goes for the series split against Toledo Tuesday afternoon at noon. Right-hander Brad Peacock starts for Syracuse for the first time since his seven-inning, one-hit performance against Columbus in his last start.
**Courtesy Syracuse Chiefs**
