Outfielder Chris Rahl leads the hit parade as Syracuse Chiefs rout Lehigh Valley, 8-3

With Syracuse Chiefs outfielder Chris Rahl cutting down on the number of times he's getting himself out, opposing pitchers are finding that challenge increasingly difficult for themselves.

The locked-in Rahl delivered five hits, drove in two and scored three times as the Syracuse Chiefs rolled their way to a 8-3 win over Lehigh Valley on Saturday at NBT Bank Stadium.

Rahl's hit haul equaled a Syracuse individual season-high for a game, which he already held with a five-hit outing on May 15. Rahl also has eight hits in his last two contests, following a three-hit effort in a suspended game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

"I've just been trying to stay consistent. When I try to do too much, a lot of times I get myself out,'' said Rahl, who has a five-game hitting streak. "I think the biggest thing for me is to stay in that zone (where) I want to attack and let everything else go. When things are going well, you see the ball really well, it looks big and fat.''

Visions of plump baseballs danced through all the Chiefs' hitters heads on Saturday.

Syracuse eliminated any chance of drama early by posting five runs in the first inning. Eury Perez and Josh Johnson each collected three hits for Syracuse, which pounded out 17 overall to match a season high. Every Chiefs position player delivered at least one hit.

"For me, you can definitely feel momentum shift in baseball. When you start out hitting like that (with five runs), everybody relaxes,'' Rahl said. "As long as we do what we're supposed to do at the plate, we're going to score runs.''

Syracuse starter Ryan Tatusko (3-3) pitched seven scoreless innings before giving up two in the eighth. Tatusko surrendered three hits, whiffed five and walked six.

The Chiefs busted out the heavy lumber right away to chalk up five runs against IronPigs starter Tom Cochran (3-5) and drive him from the game after two-thirds of an inning.

Perez led off with a double, and Rahl followed with another two-bagger to produce the first run of the game. Danny Espinosa was next up in the parade, swatting a single for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.

Tyler Moore drew a walk, and Chris Marrero's single brought in Espinosa. Zach Walters then doubled to plate Moore, but Marrero was thrown out at home. One out later, Johnson finished the damage to bring around the fifth run of the frame and chase Cochran after 33 pitches.

The outburst marked the seventh time this season that Syracuse has scored at least five runs in an inning.

Perez was the catalyst again as Syracuse tacked on another in the second, off reliever Zach Miner. Perez led off with a single, stole second and took third on a throwing error by IronPigs catcher Steven Lerud. Rahl cashed in with a single that scored Perez for a 6-0 Chiefs cushion.

"It was one of those nights tonight where everything he hit found holes,'' said Syracuse manager Tony Beasley. "He's been swinging the bat well all year. The whole thing with him is making sure he swings at pitches in his zone.''

Syracuse kept piling on in the fourth when Lehigh Valley third baseman Cody Asche's booted Moore's grounder, allowing Rahl to score from second.

The Chiefs picked up their final run in the eighth. Rahl led off with a triple to center and Espinosa drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

Tatusko was coming off an outing in which he tossed seven shutout innings against Buffalo on July 6. He made a strong bid to turn in Syracuse's first complete-game shutout of the season, but Beasley pulled him after the walked the first two IronPigs in the eighth.

"He was starting to lose it a little bit,'' Beasley said. "He had a good outing. I just wanted to get him out of there, and on a good note.''

- Boxscore

&raquo IL standings

Source: http://blog.syracuse.com/sports/2013/07/syracuse_chiefs_13.html

the legend of korra three stooges the three stooges the bee gees woodward keratosis pilaris rock and roll hall of fame 2012