STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Chiefs put an end to the Bisons six-game win streak with a 7-2 victory over the Herd on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Field. Hunter Jones hit a grand slam and Phillips Valdez yielded just two hits over seven innings as Syracuse won for the first time in seven tries against the Herd this year.
Buffalo’s hitters just could not get anything going against the Syracuse righty. Valdez needed just 65 pitches to get through his seven innings of work as he retired 15 of the 23 batters he faced on three or fewer pitches. He set down the first 17 batters he faced, taking a perfect game two outs into the sixth inning.
In fact, Valdez should’ve had to no-hitter into the seventh inning, but Jones misplayed Ian Parmley‘s fly ball by initially charging in on the play, only to have the ball sore over his head for a triple.
Ryan Borucki had a gem working for the Bisons as well, allowing just a run through his first five innings of work. Then in the sixth, the southpaw and the Bisons bench began to voice their displeasure over the pitch calls at home plate. After a third walk in the inning, Boruki allowed a two-out, two-run single to Bengie Gonzalez that broke the game open.
Following the single, Bisons pitching coach Bob Stanley was ejected for arguing the previous walk. As Borucki walked towards the dugout after being relieved by Tim Mayza, he too was ejected from the game.
With the Chiefs already up 3-0, Jones put the game out of reach with his eighth-inning grand slam. The Bisons scored their two runs in the eighth inning thanks to a two-out infield single by Richard Urena and a balk by reliever Austin Adames with Ian Parmley on third base.
The Bisons can still win their four-game series with the Chiefs on Thursday afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch time against the Chiefs.
