SYRACUSE LOSES 4-0

Drew Gagnon collected a career-high 13 strikeouts on Sunday afternoon (James Farrance).

Syracuse, NY (July 28, 2019) - Drew Gagnon struck out a career-high 13 batters on Sunday afternoon, but the Syracuse Mets couldn’t pull of the series sweep as they fell to the Toledo Mud Hens, 4-0, at NBT Bank Stadium. The 13 strikeouts for Gagnon are the most by a Mets pitcher in a game this season and tied for the second-most strikeouts by a pitcher in a game in the entire league this year.

Toledo (47-59) grabbed the early lead in the top of the first inning. Daz Cameron walked to start the ballgame, and then Jake Rogers drove him in from first on a double to left-center field, giving the Mud Hens a 1-0 advantage. 

In the fifth, Toledo added another run. Dawel Lugo knocked an infield single to start the frame. A throwing error and a wild pitch advanced Lugo to third base. Then, another wild pitch allowed Lugo to score from third. The unearned run made it 2-0 Mud Hens.

Toledo added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Jacob Robson reached base on an error. Pete Kozma then drilled a homer just to the right of the left-field foul pole, putting the Mud Hens up, 4-0. 

Syracuse (53-53) starting pitcher Drew Gagnon was magnificent throughout the game. Of the 19 outs Gagnon recorded, 13 of them were strikeouts. The 29-year-old allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks over six and 1/3 innings of work. 

Of the 54 outs total in the game, a whopping 27 of them were strikeouts, making up 50-percent of the outs. The all-time record for strikeouts by one pitcher in a game in Syracuse franchise history is 16.

Next up for Syracuse is a key two-game road trip against the division leaders, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. First pitch between the RailRiders and Mets is set for 7:05 p.m. on Monday. LHP Anthony Kay will be on the mound for Syracuse opposite RHP Brody Koerner for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.