The Syracuse Chiefs defeated the Gwinnett Braves 6-5 on Sunday at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y. Gwinnett, who was trying for its sixth-straight win, falls to 29-22 with just the team’s second loss in its last 10 games. Syracuse improves to 23-25 on the season.
Gwinnett scored a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning.
Tommy Hanson, who had allowed just one hit and struck out eight batters prior to the sixth didn’t make it out of the inning.
The Syracuse Chiefs scored four runs on four hits in the frame. Only one of the four runs was earned. G-Braves’ first baseman Barbaro Canizares and center fielder Gregor Blanco were each charged with an error in the inning, allowing the Chiefs to come back and take a 4-3 lead. Chiefs’ center fielder Corey Patterson hit his fifth homer of the season in the inning. The two-out blast was the first homer that Hanson had served up since May 10, spanning three starts and 27 innings.
Gwinnett got Hanson off the hook in the eighth inning with a run in the top of the frame. Following back-to-back singles by Brooks Conrad and Clint Sammons, G-Braves’ third baseman Van Pope advanced both runners into scoring position with a sac bunt. Reid Gorecki singled home Conrad and tied the game at four.
The next batter, Brian Barton, drew a walk to load the bases.
But pinch hitter Brandon Jones struck out and Blanco grounded out to end the scoring threat. After his second-straight no-decision start, Hanson remains at 3-3 with a 1.49 ERA.
Gwinnett couldn’t ride the momentum as reliever Boone Logan loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Logan finally got out of the jam but not before he allowed two earned runs. The second run scored on a wild pitch that gave the Chiefs a 6-4 advantage. Logan was charged with his first loss of the season and is now 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA.