Game Recap and Highlights: Syracuse falls to Worcester on Sunday afternoon, 10-8

 

Mark Vientos, Syracuse Mets, Stock Photo by Herm Card -herm4444@gmail,com

Worcester, MA – The Syracuse Mets faltered late in Sunday afternoon's game, losing 10-8 after scoring the game's first six runs. Despite the loss, the Mets still took two out of three games in the series. Syracuse has also won seven out of its last 11 games, and the Mets own one of the best records in the International League since June 2nd, posting a 27-18 record during that time span.  (Box Score)

Early on, it looked like Syracuse (42-51) was destined for a series sweep, taking a commanding 6-0 lead entering the bottom of the second inning. The Mets scored four times in the top of the first on the strength of two separate two-run singles. Nick Plummer and Deven Marrero had the pair of two-run base knocks to give the Mets a 4-0 edge.   

In the second, the Mets tacked on two more runs. A one-out Nic Gaddis double started the effort. Gaddis moved up to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout from Plummer for a 5-0 Mets lead. Gaddis had an outstanding Triple-A debut on Sunday, going 2-for-2 at the plate with two doubles, three walks, and two runs scored. Later in the second, Syracuse struck again when Mark Vientos pounded a home run over the center-field wall to make it 6-0. Vientos is now tied for the team lead with 17 round-trippers this season. He also went a combined 4-for-10 in the weekend series at Worcester.     

From there, the game slipped away as Worcester (48-45) rallied all the way back to win. The comeback effort began slowly, first with a lone run in the bottom of the second when Cam Cannon singled home Christin Stewart, who had doubled earlier in the frame. Cannon was making his Triple-A debut on Sunday afternoon.     

In the fourth, the WooSox plated another lone run to make it 6-2. Johan Mieses walked to lead off the inning, moved to second on a Nick Sogard single, went to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Grant Williams.    

In the fifth, the Red Sox got within one run of a tie with three tallies on three hits. Ronaldo Hernández doubled home Connor Wong and Tristan Casas, who had both singled to begin the frame. Later in the inning, Hernández himself scored when Sogard produced a sacrifice fly to make it a 6-5 ballgame.   

In the top of the sixth, the Mets got a little breathing room again when Kramer Robertson brought home two runs on a one-out single. Deven Marrero singled to start the inning, followed by Jose Colina being plunked by a pitch that put two on base with nobody out. Tzu-Wei Lin dropped down an excellent sacrifice bunt that advanced Marrero to third and Colina to second, followed by Robertson's single right back up the middle that made it a three-run advantage for the road team again, 8-5.   

However, the Mets offense would go silent from there. After Syracuse scored six runs on six hits in the first two innings, the Mets produced just two runs on two hits in the game's final seven innings. The Red Sox took advantage of the lack of Syracuse offense down the stretch, scoring the game's final five runs to take down the Mets by a 10-8 final.    

In the seventh, Worcester scored twice to make it 8-7. Hernández led off with his second double of the game and scored on a one-out single from Mieses. Later in inning, Mieses came home to score on an RBI hit from Grant Williams. Williams, the nine hitter in the WooSox lineup, finished the game with two runs driven in. 

In the eighth, the Red Sox completed their furious rally. Connor Wong and Triston Casas began the inning with consecutive singles, putting runners on first and third with nobody out. A Hernández sacrifice fly plated Wong and kept Casas on first with one out as the Red Sox tied the game, 8-8. Christin Stewart then walked, putting runners on first and second with one out. Johan Mieses followed with a hard chopper to third that glanced off Tzu-Wei Lin's glove, rolling softly into left field and allowing Stewart to sprint all the way home and give the WooSox a 9-8 lead they would never give up. The Red Sox extended their lead later in the inning on a sacrifice fly from Sogard, putting the finishing touches on a 10-8 victory. By the end of the game, Worcester had scored ten runs on 13 hits.   

While Worcester's hitters took the headlines in their furious comeback win, their bullpen should take a bulk of the credit. After the Red Sox starter, Chris Murphy, recorded just one out, the bullpen held the fort. Relievers Geoff Hartlieb, A.J. Politi, Matt Barnes, Chase Shugart, and Frank German combined to toss eight and two-thirds innings, allowing just two runs on four hits with six strikeouts.    

Syracuse returns home on Tuesday evening, beginning a six-game series against the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, the Omaha Storm Chasers. First pitch on Tuesday evening is slated for 6:35 p.m. 

Nine batters. Four hits. Four runs.

WHAT a first inning!

🎙 @TrickyCNS7 on @TheScore1260 pic.twitter.com/wOGPRIcicn

— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) July 24, 2022

Mark Vientos goes deep for the @SyracuseMets - #17 on the year. Syracuse up 6-0 in the 2nd with Thomas Szapucki on the mound. #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @BTB_MikeII @MiLBMetsMadness pic.twitter.com/M4WJvkBnLU

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) July 24, 2022

Catcher Nic Gaddis was called up from @BKCyclones to the @SyracuseMets and went 2 for 2 with 2 doubles and 3 walks. #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @BTB_MikeII @MiLBMetsMadness pic.twitter.com/wtTBO06X2F

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) July 24, 2022