SYRACUSE LOSES AGAIN TO IRONPIGS

Allentown, PA (May 22, 2019) - Two late runs doomed the Syracuse Mets in a 6-4 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park. The Mets and the IronPigs are now tied for first place in the International League North Division.

Lehigh Valley (23-19) scored the game’s decisive runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the game tied, 4-4, Deivy Grullon led off with a double. Mitch Walding followed with a double that scored Grullon to give the IronPigs a 5-4 edge. An Ali Castillo fly out to right field moved Walding to third base, and then Matt McBride brought Walding home with a groundout to second base that made it a 6-4 ballgame.

Syracuse (24-20) scored first in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Danny Espinosa walked. Travis Taijeron followed with his team-leading ninth home run of the season as the Mets took a 2-0 lead.

The IronPigs responded in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, Castillo singled to center field, scoring Lane Adams from third base to cut the Syracuse lead to one, 2-1. McBride then grounded into a fielder’s choice where Castillo was out at second, but Grullon scored from third, Walding moved to third, and McBride was safe at first as the ballgame became tied, 2-2. Gift Ngoepe followed with a single to right field to bring home Walding and give the IronPigs a 3-2 advantage.

The Mets tied the game back up in the fifth. With one out, Rymer Liriano lifted a ball over the left-center-field fence for a home run that knotted the game up, 3-3.

Syracuse regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Grégor Blanco walked, moved to second base on a wild pitch, stole third base, and scored on another wild pitch as the Mets took a 4-3 lead in the frame without picking up a hit. 

Lehigh Valley struck back in the bottom of the sixth though. With one out and Castillo at first, McBride doubled down the left-field line, scoring Castillo to tie the game, 4-4.

The Mets and IronPigs finish their three-game series on Thursday night. RHP Chris Flexen will start for Syracuse opposite RHP Drew Anderson for Lehigh Valley. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.