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Yankees pounce on Syracuse in 11-run output to hold a 4 1/2 game lead with 7 to go.
If a close win two nights ago against Syracuse opened the door for another Scranton/Wilkes-Barre championship, a late offensive explosion last night – led by newly-crowned league Rookie of the Year Austin Jackson – all but slammed it shut on the Chiefs.
The Yankees took advantage of nine walks and seven hits in the final three innings to score eight runs and break open a close game in an 11-4 win against the second-place Chiefs on Tuesday night at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y.
Jackson, who was named the International League ROY earlier in the day, tied his season-high with four hits and finished with a season-high five RBI. Six different Yankees finished with at least two hits, eight of the nine starters scored at least one run, and SWB drew a season-high 11 walks.
With the win, the Yankees saw their magic number for a third consecutive IL North championship drop to three. Any combination of three SWB wins or Syracuse losses will clinch a title for the Yankees. There are seven games left in the regular season.
The Yankees also improved their record to 76-68, moving to 18 games above .500 for the first time since a 23-5 record on May 5.
A wild top of the seventh inning – in which the Yankees scored three runs on five walks, a hit batter, and a single – also featured the ejections of SWB manager Dave Miley and hitting coach Butch Wynegar.
With the Yankees hanging on to a 3-2 lead, Chris Stewart was hit by a pitch, Kevin Russo walked and recently-acquired Freddy Guzman also drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Jackson followed with his second two-RBI hit of the night, a single to score Stewart and Russo, giving SWB a 5-3 lead.
Shelley Duncan, who was named the IL Most Valuable Player earlier in the day, followed with a walk to load the bases. Juan Miranda struck out, but the ball got away from Syracuse catcher Jhonatan Solano. Guzman was out attempting to score on the play and was also knocked over by pitcher Yunior Novoa. Jackson and Duncan advanced to third and second, respectively, during the play.
Miley charged out of the SWB dugout to argue the play at the plate and was ejected by home plate umpire Lance Barrett. Wynegar was also ejected by Barrett.
When play resumed, Cody Ransom was intentionally walked to load the bases and John Rodriguez became the fifth Yankee to draw a walk during the inning, scoring Jackson to make it 6-2. The five walks in an inning tied a season-high set May 21 in a win at Pawtucket. Five Syracuse pitchers combined to walk 11 batters in the game, which took 3 hours, 41 minutes to play.
The Yankees put the game away with five runs in the top of the ninth inning. Reegie Corona hit a two-run single to score Duncan (double) and Miranda (walk) and Stewart hit a run-scoring double. Russo and Jackson added RBI singles. The five RBI increased Jackson’s season total to 62. He also has a team-high 143 hits.
SWB starting pitcher Romulo Sanchez picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two. Humberto Sanchez, who was called up from Double-A Trenton on Tuesday, struck out four in two scoreless innings. Amaury Sanit allowed a pair of runs on three hits in the ninth.
HOW THEY SCORED
SWB First: Kevin Russo led off the game with a single and went to third on a single by Freddy Guzman, who then stole second. Austin Jackson followed with a double to score Russo and Guzman. YANKEES 2, CHIEFS 0
Syracuse Second: Brad Eldred walked, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Kory Casto. YANKEES 2, CHIEFS 1
SWB Fourth: Cody Ransom walked and went to third on a one-out single by Reegie Corona. Chris Stewart walked to load the bases. Russo followed with a sacrifice fly to score Ransom. YANKEES 3, CHIEFS 1
Syracuse Fourth: Eldred walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Eldred advanced to third on a single by Seth Bynum and scored on a groundout by Marcos Yepez. YANKEES 3, CHIEFS 2
SWB Seventh: Chris Stewart was hit by a pitch, Russo walked and Guzman walked to load the bases with no outs. Jackson singled to score Stewart and Russo. Shelley Duncan walked to load the bases. Juan Miranda struck out and Guzman was out attempting to score on the play. Ransom was intentionally walked to load the bases. John Rodriguez walked to score Jackson. YANKEES 6, CHIEFS 2
SWB Ninth: Duncan led off with a double, Miranda walked and Ransom also walked to load the bases with no outs. With one out, Corona singled to score Duncan and Miranda. Stewart followed with a double to score Ransom and move Corona to third. Russo singled to score Corona and move Stewart to third. With two outs, Jackson hit a single to score Stewart. YANKEES 11, CHIEFS 2
Syracuse Ninth: Ian Desmond singled and Jhonatan Solano hit a single to put runners on first and second. Michael Daniel followed with a single to score Desmond. Norris Hopper walked to load the bases. Solano scored on a groundout by Leonard Davis. YANKEES 11, CHIEFS 4