SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Salt Cats scored the first three runs of the game and went on to hold off the Watertown Rapids on Thursday night.
The Salt Cats scored one run in the bottom of the first inning and plated two more in the fourth en route to recording a 3-2 victory against the Rapids to win a New York Collegiate Baseball League game played at Onondaga Community College.
Luke Van Marter pitched five innings of relief, allowing both runs, with each of them unearned, on three hits while striking out two to post the win for Syracuse (2-3).
Kyle Phillips tossed three shutout innings, striking out three and yielding one hit to register the save for the Salt Cats.
Danny Leyva pitched 4 1/3 innings in taking the loss for Watertown (4-3), yielding all three runs, with one of them earned, on five hits and one walk while totaling three strikeouts.
Jorge Rodriguez came on and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one walk while striking out a pair.
Syracuse took a 1-0 lead in the first as Brian White singled and scored on Mike Giamartino’s single to center field.
The Salt Cats extended their advantage to 3-0 on a pair of unearned runs in the fourth as John Tomsho singled and later scored on an error and Mason Smith scored on a flyout to first base by Oliver Rey.
The Rapids followed by scoring two unearned runs of their own in the sixth.
Damon Asencio singled to lead off the inning and after Will Bartoli singled and Tommy Ocasal reached on a fielder’s choice, scored when Nate Figueroa fouled out to left field.
Peyton Adams followed with a single to left to drive in Bartoli.
Adams singled twice on the night to pace a five-hit effort by Watertown.
The East Division-leading Rapids will host Syracuse at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and then host the Rochester Ridgemen at 2 p.m. on Saturday, with both games at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.
After playing at Rochester at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Watertown will return to host Rochester at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.