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| Joey Lucchesi allowed just two runs in six innings pitched on Friday night while leading Syracuse to its third straight win (Kylie Richelle). |
Syracuse, NY – The week of strong starting pitching continued for the Syracuse Mets as Joey Lucchesi went a season-long six innings while the Mets rallied back yet again to top the Worcester Red Sox, 4-2, on Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium. The Mets have now won three straight games over the Red Sox after dropping the series opener on Monday afternoon (Box Score).
The prior two nights, the starting pitching for Syracuse (7-5) had been defined by raw power. Christian Scott and Dom Hamel each struck out ten batters in their starts on Wednesday and Thursday nights respectively. On Friday night, Lucchesi finessed his way to another quality outing. The left-hander struck out four and only walked two in his six innings of work, allowing five hits on 92 pitches, which was another season-high for a Syracuse Mets pitcher. 60 of those 92 pitches were strikes and Lucchesi battled back from an inauspicious start. Lucchesi allowed runs in the first and second inning before working his final four innings in scoreless fashion. Lucchesi retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced in order.
After a scoreless first two innings and with Syracuse trailing, 2-0, the Mets' offense woke up in a big way in the bottom of the third. Four straight singles to start the frame scored two runs to tie the game, capped off by a two-run single from Luisangel Acuña that knotted the game up, 2-2. Acuña finished the night with two hits, his first multi-hit game in his Triple-A career. He also has hits in three consecutive games. Mark Vientos handed the Mets a lead they would not relinquish later on in the third on an RBI groundout for a 3-2 Syracuse advantage. Vientos has now has driven in a team-high ten runs this season.
In the sixth, the Mets scored again via a familiar face. Rylan Bannon got a hanging breaking ball up in the air and watched a swirling wind sail it well beyond the fence in right-center field for his second homer in as many games that upped the Syracuse lead to 4-2. Bannon also hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning in Thursday night's game.
After Lucchesi's strong start put Syracuse in position to win, the bullpen did the rest in the final three innings. Shintaro Fujinami and Josh Walker tag-teamed the final three innings, combining to allow no runs and no hits as the Mets cruised to their third win in as many days. Fujinami starred on his 30th birthday, retiring all four batters he faced. Walker followed by sitting down all five batters he saw, including three with strikeouts to ensure Syracuse would win yet again over the Red Sox.
Syracuse continues its six-game series against the Worcester Red Sox at NBT Bank Stadium on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
Luisangel Acuña: coming alive 🔥
— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) April 12, 2024
He ties this one up in the third! pic.twitter.com/TnTUIVrMm5
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