The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, improved their record in doubleheaders to 7-3 on the season with a sweep of the Louisville Bats. Jim Negrych hit a walkoff double to lead the Chiefs to a 2-1 win in game one, while James Skelton drove in the only run in Syracuse's 1-0 win in game two.
Runs were at a premium throughout the day. In game one, Syracuse starter Yunesky Maya sent the Bats down in order in three of the first four innings, while Louisville pitcher Pedro Villarreal allowed only two Syracuse base runners during that span.
The fifth inning, however, proved pivotal. In the top half, catcher Corky Miller led off with a walk and advanced to third base when the next batter, Miguel Rojas, singled to right field. Villarreal then proceeded to strike out trying to bunt and Joey Gathright hit into a double play to end Louisville's threat.
Syracuse (29-31) capitalized on its scoring opportunity in the ensuing half-inning. Brett Carroll led off with a double to right and moved to third base as Carlos Rivero followed with a single the same way. Jeff Howell gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Carroll.
Louisville (18-43) wasted no time in tying the game, 1-1, in the top of the sixth. Willie Harris singled to start the inning and reached third base on a Daniel Dorn one-out single. With runners at the corners and two outs, Atahualpa Severino entered in relief of Maya and gave up a double down the right field line to Felix Perez. Harris crossed home, but Carroll threw Dorn out at the plate to keep the score tied at 1-1.
The Chiefs won the abbreviated seven-inning game in their final trip to the plate. Xavier Paul began the bottom of the seventh by stinging a single to right off of Louisville reliever Nick Christiani. Paul moved to second base on a Carroll groundout, which prompted the Bats to intentionally walk Rivero. Syracuse manager Tony Beasley elected to have Negrych pinch-hit for Howell and the decision proved wise. Negrych served a fastball into the gap in right field, driving home Paul for the Chiefs first walkoff win of 2012.
In game two, the Chiefs were the road club for the nightcap due to last week's rainout at Louisville. In his first Triple-A start of the season, Syracuse's Jeff Mandel was stellar. He retired the first eleven batters he faced en route to five scoreless innings of one-hit ball.
On the other side, Bats starter Wirfin Obispo matched Mandel out for out. He didn't allow a hit in five shutout innings, while walking four Chiefs.
The Chiefs finally broke through in the top of the seventh inning. Negrych snuck a two-out double off of third base and into left field for a double and the Chiefs' first hit of the game. After Bats reliever Travis Webb intentionally walked Seth Bynum, Skelton flared a single to left, scoring Negrych for the game's only run.
Christian Garcia picked up the win in his first appearance for Syracuse this season. He tossed two perfect innings to slam the door shut on Louisville. Over the first three games of the series, Chiefs pitchers have allowed just one run and 10 hits in 23 innings.
The Chiefs and Bats play game four of the five-game series Thursday night at 7:00. Tanner Roark is scheduled to toe the rubber for Syracuse against Louisville's Sean Gallagher.
**Courtesy Syracuse Chiefs**
