The Syracuse Chiefs and Columbus Clippers met Sunday in their three-game series finale at NBT Bank Stadium. The Chiefs took the first two games and were looking for the series sweep. A six-run second inning would ensure that happened as Syracuse would go on to win 7-3.
Hill, who was looking for his first win since April 16th, was really good in this one giving the Chiefs 6.1 solid innings giving up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts. He didn’t allow a hit all until the fourth inning when Clippers center fielder James Ramsey sent one out of the park for his fourth on the season. By that time the score was already 6-1 and the Chiefs would respond in the bottom half to get back the run that was allowed by Hill.
The afternoon wasn’t as lovely for Clippers starter Nick Maronde. The southpaw was looking to make it at least to the fifth inning for the fifth consecutive start, but wasn’t able to. Maronde lasted just 3.2 innings which was his shortest outing as a starting pitcher since August 10th when he has a member of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Class-A Short Season, New York-Penn Leaguge). The Chiefs were unfriendly hosts tagging Maronde to the tune of seven runs of nine hits.
Matt den Dekker put the Chiefs on the board in the second on a two-run double which was his first of the season, followed by RBI single by Emmanuel Burriss and a base-clearing little league home run by Tony Gwynn Jr finished the scoring in the Chiefs big inning.
Columbus would add two more runs to inch just a little closer but that would be it. Evan Meek would come in and close the door on any posed threat by the Clippers earning his fourth save of the season.
With the win the Syracuse Chiefs are 10-14 and remain in fifth place in the International Leagues North Division, and with the loss the Clippers fall to 11-13 and remain in second place in the West Division. These two teams will face each other again in a four-game series in Columbus from June 11th to June 14th.
Syracuse is home for six more with series against the Norfolk Tide and the Durham Bulls. With an off day on Monday, the Clippers will return home for a six-game home stand against the Charlotte Knights and the Pawtucket Red Sox.
John Ginder
John has recently graduated from the University at Albany with a B.A. in History and is currently finishing his Master's Degree there as well in secondary education. After being away from school for over two decades he decided to go back and work towards his dream of becoming a social studies teacher.
