Syracuse stymies Charlotte Knights’ 9th-inning threat

Tim Anderson and Jason Bourgeois had two hits apiece Wednesday, but Charlotte had its ninth-inning rally cut short and fell 8-3 to the Syracuse Chiefs at NBT Bank Stadium.

The Knights loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but they fell short for the second time in the series.

Nicky Delmonico walked to lead off the inning against reliever Juan Gutierrez, and Bourgeois singled to put runners on first and third. With Omar Narvaez batting, Bourgeois stole second before Narvaez lined out to third.

Tim Anderson walked to load the bases with one out and force a pitching change by the Chiefs.

Nick Masset replaced Gutierrez and gave up a run on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Sanchez, but Masset escaped further damage by getting J.B. Shuck batting to ground out to end the game.

Even though Anderson and Bourgeois remained hot, Syracuse starter A.J. Cole was able to hold the Knights to just one run on five hits over six innings for the win. Cole (4-2) walked just one batter and allowed his only blemish of the night in the second inning on a Nicky Delmonico RBI single.

Charlotte starter Chris Volstad (3-4) allowed four runs (five earned) on eight hits over six innings. Scott Sizemore connected on a solo home run off Volstad during a three-run second inning. Jason Martinson chipped in with three hits to help pace the Syracuse offense.

The Chiefs have won the first two games of the series with the finale on tap for 6:35 p.m. Thursday.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 10:19 PM with the headline "Syracuse stymies Charlotte Knights’ 9th-inning threat."