The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, were shut out on Friday night by the Gwinnett Braves, 6-0. Gwinnett scored all six of its runs in the first four innings, with five runs in three innings against starter Yunesky Maya. The Braves have now won two of the first four games in this series.
Gwinnett (61-73) claimed a first-inning run off of Maya to kickstart its offense. Jose Constanza reached on a bunt single to start the Braves' half of the inning, and two batters later, Lyle Overbay walked. Third baseman Terry Tiffee then followed with an RBI single, scoring Constanza for the game's first tally.
The Braves then put up three runs in the second inning. Jose Yepez and Rusty Ryal began the frame with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Constanza blasted a double to deep right-center field, scoring Yepez for a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Overbay lined a double over Eury Perez' head in left field, plating two runs.
Gwinnett added runs in each of the next two innings as well. In the third, Ryel doubled in Felix Pie, who had reached on a Mark Teahen error. Maya would leave after the frame, giving up eight hits and five runs (four earned) in three innings, his shortest outing of the season.
The Braves added another unearned run in the fourth inning against reliever Mitch Atkins. Overbay walked, advanced to second base on a passed ball and scored on a one-out single to center field by Pie.
Meanwhile, Syracuse (63-71) was stifled by four Braves pitchers on the night, with starter Randall Delgado working four innings and reliever Dusty Hughes picking up the win in three innings of work. The Chiefs' best chance came in the fourth when Syracuse loaded the bases with just one out. However, Delgado struck out Brett Carroll and retired pinch-hitter Jesus Valdez on a groundout, ending the inning.
Syracuse and Gwinnett will play the third game of a four-game set on Saturday night at 7:05. Left-hander John Lannan is scheduled to throw for the Chiefs against Braves right-hander Julio Teheran.
