SYRACUSE METS WIN 3-2

Aaron Altherr makes a game-ending diving catch in the top of the ninth inning to secure a 3-2 victory for the Mets on Thursday night (Danny Tripodi).

Syracuse, NY (July 25, 2019) - The Syracuse Mets used a two-run sixth inning to propel them to a 3-2 victory over the Indianapolis Indians on Thursday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Mets starting pitcher Ervin Santana tossed six innings of one-run baseball and the Mets defense helped secure the win. 

Indianapolis (52-50) struck first in the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run from Kevin Kramer to give the Indians a 1-0 lead.

Syracuse (51-52) responded in the bottom of the fifth. Aaron Altherr used a solo home run of his own to tie the game up, 1-1.

The Mets scored the game’s decisive runs in the sixth inning. Rubén Tejada led off the frame with a double. Two batters later, Dilson Herrera knocked Tejada home on a double of his own, making it 2-1 Mets. After that, Grégor Blanco ripped a single to right field to score Herrera from second and give Syracuse a 3-1 lead.

Mets starter Ervin Santana went six strong innings. He gave up just one earned run on five hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. Reliever Matt Blackham pitched a scoreless top of the seventh inning in his Syracuse debut.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Indians pinch hitter Travyon Robinson doubled into the right-center-field gap. Hayes scored easily from second but the runner from first, Will Craig, was thrown out on a beautiful relay from the Mets to end the inning and keep Syracuse in front, 3-2.

Steve Barron led off the ninth with a single for Indianapolis. Pinch-runner Darnell Swenney was then thrown out by catcher Réne Rivera trying to steal second. Later in the inning, with two outs and a runner at first, Erik Gonzalez lifted a blooper into center field and Altherr laid out on his stomach to make a diving catch for the final out of the game. 

Syracuse continues its homestand on Friday night, starting a three-game series with the Toledo Mud Hens. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. from NBT Bank Stadium.