The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, rode an explosive hitting display past Toledo in a 17-2 win on Monday afternoon. Syracuse set a season high for runs in an inning with seven in the first, with Matt Antonelli and Carlos Maldonado homering in the frame. The Chiefs bashed a season-high six home runs in the victory. Syracuse also set season highs with 17 runs and 20 hits.
Syracuse (49-60) batted around against right-hander Thad Weber in the first inning. Steve Lombardozzi led off with a single before being forced out at second on a Roger Bernadina ground ball. Bernadina then stole second and third base before Chris Marrero walked, and Jesus Valdez singled home Bernadina for the game's first run. Tug Hulett then bounced a ground ball to first that Scott Thorman threw to second base to try and get the force, but shortstop Argenis Diaz missed the catch and Marrero scored on the play. Diaz was charged with an error.
Antonelli then stepped to the plate and launched a 2-2 pitch to left field for his fifth home run. The Chiefs infielder has now homered in two straight games for the first time all season. After Jeff Frazier followed with a single, Maldonado hit a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season, giving the Chiefs a 7-0 lead.
Toledo (52-60) scored twice on just one hit against Syracuse starter Brad Peacock in the fourth inning. Jeff Salazar walked with one out, and Clete Thomas drew a walk with two down. Scott Thorman then singled to right field, Toledo's first hit of the game, to drive in Salazay. After a walk to Danny Worth, a wild pitch by Peacock scored Thomas. The right-hander exited after four innings despite allowing just one hit. Peacock walked five, struck out four, and threw just 44 of 91 pitches for strikes.
Syracuse took the momentum right back in the fifth inning with four consecutive one outs. Antonelli doubled and scored on Frazier's single to push the lead to 8-2. Then after a Maldonado single, Corey Brown crushed a three-run home run to right field, extending the lead to 11-2.
The Chiefs added on six more runs in the later innings. Antonelli singled home a run in the sixth inning, and Hulett smacked a two-run homer in the eighth.
In the ninth inning, Syracuse continued its homer-happy ways. Brown launched his eleventh home run of the season and second home run of the game with a solo shot off of Brendan Wise. Three batters later, Marrero clobbered an 0-2 pitch to left field, also for his eleventh home run of the season.
Syracuse next plays on Thursday after the team gets a scheduled off day on Wednesday. The Chiefs visit Columbus at 7:05 for the first of a four-game set with right-hander Yunesky Maya on the hill.
**Courtesy Syracuse Chiefs**
