Chiefs take two from Clippers

COLUMBUS >> The Syracuse Chiefs scored six consecutive runs in an 8- 4 win over the Columbus Clippers on Friday night, one day after earning an 8- 7, extra innings victory over the Clippers.

Chiefs 8, Clippers 4

Right fielder Corey Brown blasted a tiebreaking three- run home run in the fifth inning and left- hander Danny Rosenbaum tossed seven innings of three- run ball to earn the win. The victory gave the Chiefs a seasonhigh four- game winning streak.

Syracuse ( 20- 27) struck first with a pair of second- inning runs without the benefit of a hit. Micah Owings and Mike Costanzo started the frame with walks against Clippers right- hander Trevor Bauer. After a passed ball advanced the runners to second and third base, shortstop Zach Walters grounded out to second base to drive in Owings. Third baseman Carlos Rivero followed up with a sacrifice fly to center field, knocking in Costanzo for a 2- 0 lead.

Lonnie Chisenhall answered for Columbus ( 28- 20) in the bottom of the frame with one- out, solo home run against Rosenbaum. He added a two- run single with the bases loaded in the third inning to put Columbus on top, 3- 2.

Those runs were all the Clippers would get until the ninth inning, as Syracuse answered with the game’s next six runs. In the fourth inning, Owings walked with one out, and two batters later, Walters drilled a double to right- center field. Owings slid in ahead of the throw home, tying the game at 3- 3.

In the fifth inning, Syracuse used a combination of patience and power to plate three runs against Bauer. Kris Watts led off the inning with a walk, and two batters later, Will Rhymes walked as well. Brown then blasted the first pitch he saw from Bauer beyond the right- field wall for a towering three- run home run, giving the Chiefs a 6- 3 lead. The long ball was Brown’s fourth homer in 17 games this season.

The Chiefs tacked on runs in each of the next two innings and those runs were more than enough for Rosenbaum, who picked up the win in his home state. The left- hander allowed just four hits and four walks in his seven innings, striking out four to improve to 5- 2.

Columbus would add a ninth- inning run on an RBI single by Tim Fedroff against Syracuse reliever Mike Crotta. The righthander, however, stranded the bases loaded by striking out Chun Chen and Jeremy Hermida to end the game.

Chiefs 8, Clippers 7 11 Innings

First baseman Chris Marrero’s two- run single gave the Chiefs an 11th- inning lead after Columbus had tied the game in the ninth. Designated hitter Micah Owings slammed two home runs in the win.

Syracuse set the stage for Marrero in the 11th when it started the inning with three consecutive base runners against Clippers lefthander Nick Hagadone. Brian Jeroloman led off the frame with a walk before Chris Rahl, attempting to sacrifice, reached on a bunt single. Eury Perez then fouled off a pair of bunt attempts before grounding an 0- 2 pitch into left field for a single, loading the bases. After a pair of strikeouts, Marrero worked the count to 3- 2 before drilling a ground ball into center field, plating Jeroloman and Rahl for the eventual game- winning runs.

Columbus catcher Omir Santos hit a leadoff home run to left field against Chiefs reliever Xavier Cedeno in the bottom of the inning. The left- hander, however, retired the next three batters to preserve the one- run win.

The Clippers cracked open the scoring with a first- inning run against Chiefs starter Matt Torra on Chun Chen’s single to left field that scored Matt Lawson. Corey Brown, however, threw out Matt LaPorta at the plate on the play to cut down a potential second run.

Owings responded for Syracuse in the second inning. With one out, the Chiefs’ designated hitter launched T. J. House’s first pitch off the scoreboard in right- center field, tying the score at 1- 1.

The Clippers took the lead back in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs. With two runners aboard and no outs, Santos clubbed a double to deep left field, scoring Tim Fedroff for a 2- 1 Columbus lead. Two batters later, Lawson’s groundout to second base scored Juan Diaz for a third Clippers run. T he Chiefs got a run back in the third inning on another long ball. Rahl led off the inning by swatting a pitch from House over the right- field wall, cutting the Clippers’ lead to 3- 2. The home run extended Rahl’s hitting streak to 15 games, a season- high mark for any Chiefs player.

Owings then blasted off once more for Syracuse in the fifth inning. The Chiefs’ rally started with a pair of one- out walks from Jeff Kobernus, who stole second base, and Brown. Marrero followed with a bloop single to right field, loading the bases for Owings. He drove the first pitch from House off of the batter’s eye in center field for a grand slam. The home run, Owings’ fifth of the season and second of the night, gave Syracuse a 6- 3 lead.