Syracuse Game Recap: Brandon Sproat shines, Drew Gilbert homers as the S-Mets beat Lehigh Valley, 1-0, on Sunday night

Brandon Sproat struck out six batters in five and one-third scoreless innings pitched on Sunday night for Syracuse (Kylie Richelle).

Box Score

By Michael Tricarico, Syracuse Mets Broadcaster

Allentown, PA - Syracuse Mets starting pitcher Brandon Sproat turned in his best Triple-A start to lead Syracuse to a 1-0 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Sunday night at Coca-Cola Park. With the win, the Mets split the six-game series against the IronPigs.

Syracuse (71-59, 25-31) scored the game's only run in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Drew Gilbert hit a ball down the right-field line that cleared the right-field wall for a home run that gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Gilbert now has five homers in his last 11 games.

That run was the only run Syracuse's pitching staff needed. Sproat was sterling against Lehigh Valley (62-66, 28-27). The 23-year-old allowed just two hits and two walks in five and one-third scoreless innings pitched while striking out six batters. This is the longest Triple-A start for Sproat and the most strikeouts the right-handed pitcher has had since being promoted to Triple-A.

From there the Syracuse bullpen was near-perfect. Max Kranick induced an inning-ending double play in the sixth inning and struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh. Eric Orze followed with three strikeouts as part of 1-2-3 eight inning. Then, Matt Gage allowed a one-out walk in the ninth but got a game-ending double play to secure his sixth save of the season. 

The Syracuse Mets have an off day Monday before beginning a six-game series at home at NBT Bank Stadium against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A New York Yankees) on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

We will never get tired of Drew Gilbert home runs 💪 pic.twitter.com/79cuoMHRR5

— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) September 1, 2024

Brandon Sproat with his best AAA outing for the @SyracuseMets, 5.1 innings, no runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, 6 Ks. #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @FarmToFlushing @bkfan09 @WexlerRules @ImAriBeRKO @bronxfanatic @draftniks @TheBaseballHut @BrianGerhauser pic.twitter.com/C5nFH5u5Jc

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) September 2, 2024

Eric Orze a 1-2-3 8th for the @SyracuseMets with 3 Ks. He now has 74 Ks in 53 innings in AAA this year. #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @FarmToFlushing @bkfan09 @WexlerRules @ImAriBeRKO @bronxfanatic @draftniks @TheBaseballHut @BrianGerhauser pic.twitter.com/SltSGj6EYb

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) September 2, 2024

Another Mets Shutout on Sunday, Upstate NY's own Matt Gage closes it by inducing a double play grounder and the @SyracuseMets win 1-0. #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @FarmToFlushing @bkfan09 @WexlerRules @ImAriBeRKO @bronxfanatic @draftniks @TheBaseballHut @BrianGerhauser pic.twitter.com/dA6lWxwtLC

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) September 2, 2024