Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse Mets beat the Worcester Red Sox, 6-4, on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium. The win snaps a three-game losing streak for Syracuse and gives the Mets a chance at a six-game series split on Sunday. Worcester (62-60) wasted no time scoring in the game. Connor Wong led off the game with a double, and Abraham Almonte followed with a single that scored Wong for a 1-0 Red Sox lead. Syracuse (52-70) responded quickly in the bottom of the first. With one out, Dominic Smith walked. Daniel Palka followed by crushing a ball way over the wall in right-center field for a two-run home run that gave the Mets a 2-1 edge. The homer was Palka’s team-leading 25th of the season, which also moved him into sole possession of second place on the International League’s home run leaderboard. The Red Sox came right back in the top of the second. Jaylin Davis started the inning with a triple. Ryan Fitzgerald then walked to put runners at first and third. A Kole Cottam groundout into a double play marked the first two outs of the frame, but Davis scored from third to tie the game, 2-2. Then Wong followed with a home run to put Worcester back in front, 3-2. This series, Wong is 12-for-26 with 11 RBIs and three home runs in five games. The Mets struck again in the bottom of the second. Syracuse loaded the bases with an error, a single, and a fielder’s choice. Then, with two outs, Smith lined a single to the outfield that scored two runs to give the Mets back the lead, 4-3. Syracuse added to its advantage in the seventh by manufacturing a run without a hit. Palka led off with a walk and was replaced by Terrance Gore as a pinch runner. Gore then stole second base, stole third, and scored on a Nick Plummer groundout to second with the infield in as the Mets took a 5-3 lead. Worcester pulled back within one in the seventh. Ronaldo Hernandez singled to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Christin Stewart singled, and Davis followed with a walk to load the bases. Fitzgerald was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Hernandez from third to make it a 5-4 ballgame. The Mets added an insurance run in the eighth. Gosuke Katoh led off with a single. After back-to-back strikeouts, Travis Jankowski lined a two-out triple to the wall in right-center field that scored Katoh to give the Mets a 6-4 lead they would not relinquish. Syracuse and Worcester conclude their six-game series with the series finale on Sunday. Right-hander Josh Hejka is scheduled to start on the mound for the Mets opposite right-hander Josh Winckowski for the Red Sox. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.

HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES Brooklyn 3 Hudson Valley 2 Renegades Broadcast Highlights (credit: Hudson Valley Renegades/MiLB.tv): 08-19 HVR Broadcast Highlights at BRK BROOKLYN, N.Y. (August 19, 2022) — Josue Panacual turned in a strong start in the Hudson Valley Renegades 3-2 loss to the Brooklyn Cyclones on Friday night at Maimonides Park. Brooklyn struck first in the bottom of the first against Hudson Valley starter Josue Panacual. Matt Rudick walked, Alex Ramirez singled, both runners advanced on an error, and Rudick scored on a JT Schwartz grounder to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Jaylen Palmer crushed a solo homer to extend the lead to 2-0. Panacual completed six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking four and striking out five. The right-hander bounced back and lasted six frames for the first time in since June 11, when he tossed seven scoreless innings against Jersey Shore. The Renegades answered back in the top of the third against Cyclones starter Christian Scott. With two outs and the bases loaded, Spencer Henson slammed a two-run double to level the score at two. The double marked Henson's fourth two-bagger in his last two games. Trey McLaughlin shined in his High-A debut for Brooklyn, silencing Hudson Valley over 4.1 shutout innings of relief, surrendering only two hits, walking one and striking out five. Daison Acosta (4-6) followed it up with two scoreless frames, walking one and striking out three. In the bottom of the ninth, Rudick laced a walk-off single off Charlie Ruegger, scoring Jaylen Palmer from second to win it for Brooklyn 3-2. Edgar Barclay (5-3) was charged with the loss despite 2.1 hitless innings, as he walked Palmer before exiting in the ninth. Hudson Valley continues its six-game series with the Brooklyn Cyclones on Saturday night at Maimonides Park. RHP Richard Fitts (0-0, 1.35) takes the ball for the Renegades, while the Cyclones tab RHP Luis Moreno (1-6, 3.14). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Coverage begins on the Renegades Baseball Network at 5:45. Hudson Valley Renegades Record: 59-52, 25-20

Syracuse rally falls one run short in 12-11 loss to Charlotte in wild Friday night matchup Charlotte, NC – The Syracuse Mets fell victim to one bad early inning on Friday night as the Charlotte Knights scored seven times in the second inning on their way to a 12-11 win in uptown Charlotte. However, a furious late rally from the Mets made it yet another tight finish as Syracuse scored seven runs in the top of the eighth inning. Every single game this week has been decided by one run. The six-game series is now tied at two games apiece. Syracuse (50-65) got off to a good start for the second straight night, scoring twice in the top of the first. After Travis Blankenhorn flied out to start the inning, Dominic Smith walked, and Mark Vientos singled to put runners on first and third base with one out. That was followed by a groundball single from Daniel Palka that rolled into center field, scoring the first run of the ballgame and advancing Vientos to second as Smith trotted home for a 1-0 lead. Khalil Lee walked to load up the bases, and then Gosuke Katoh bounced into a groundout to first base that allowed Vientos to come home and make it a 2-0 game. It remained a 2-0 game until the bottom of the second inning when the game got away from the Mets. After Harol González worked a 1-2-3 top of the first in his first start of the season for Syracuse, the second frame proved to be his demise. Charlotte (45-70) scored seven runs on eight hits in the inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Lenyn Sosa and an RBI double from Carlos Perez. The inning would chase González from the game, finishing his start with seven runs allowed on seven hits in just one and one-third innings. González had made five appearances (four starts) in the lower levels of the Mets minor league system before Friday night’s start. The 27-year-old right-hander is returning from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2021 season. González made eight appearances (seven starts) with Syracuse during the 2019 season, posting an ERA of 2.68 in 40 and one-third innings with 23 strikeouts. In the bottom of the third, Charlotte scored again when Craig Dedelow reached on a two-out error, stole second, and scored on a single from Xavier Hernandez to make it an 8-2 game. Syracuse got a run back in the top of the fourth on a solo home run from Khalil Lee, his 10th big fly of the season to trim the deficit back to five, 8-3. But Charlotte countered with a solo home run of its own in the bottom of the fifth, this one off the bat of Micker Adolfo to make it a 9-3 ballgame. Each team had plenty of runs left to score in the ballgame. Charlotte scored once in the sixth via a Jake Burger RBI single, followed by two more runs in the bottom of the seventh on RBI doubles from Xavier Hernandez and Yolbert Sanchez. Syracuse scored once in the top of the seventh on a solo home run from JT Riddle, his seventh home run of the season in 63 Triple-A games between Louisville (27 games) and Syracuse (36 games). The Mets entered the top of the eighth inning down, 12-4, but true to form in this wacky week of baseball, Syracuse made it a ballgame again. The Mets produced their own seven-run inning, somehow crawling back to within one run at 12-11. The inning started with a Dominic Smith double, followed by a Mark Vientos groundout and a Daniel Palka walk to put two runners on base with one out. Khalil Lee was then plunked by a pitch, loading up the bases. Gosuke Katoh, the next batter, then got hit by a pitch too, making it a 12-5 game and keeping the bases loaded. From there, the fun truly began. JT Riddle doubled off the top of the wall in right-center field, scoring Palka and Lee and moving Katoh up to third to make it a 12-7 ballgame. Jose Colina then singled home Katoh and Riddle, slashing the deficit to three, 12-9. That was followed by yet another hit, this one a single from Terrance Gore that put runners on first and second with one out. A Travis Blankenhorn walk loaded up the bases again, followed by a Smith single in his second at-bat of the inning that scored a run and made it 12-10 with the bases loaded. Vientos strode to the plate for the second time in the inning, hitting a bouncer to third base that looked like a sure double play to finally end the frame. Yet, the Knights could only get the force out at second base, as the relay throw back to first base to complete the possible inning-ending double play was dropped. That made it 12-11, put runners on first and third with two outs, and brought Palka to the plate yet again with the chance to miraculously tie the game. It wasn’t to be, as Palka grounded out to shortstop to end the flurry of runs for the Mets at seven in the eighth inning. It remained 12-11 into the top of the ninth with one last chance for the Mets to complete their truly wild comeback. After Lee struck out to start the inning, Katoh singled to keep the hopes of late magic alive. Riddle then came to the plate and lined a single himself into right field, putting the potential leading run on base with one out in the top of the ninth. However, the magic then ran out, as Francisco Álvarez and Gore each struck out to end another crazy game down in Charlotte. Despite the loss, it was still an excellent night to be a hitter for the Syracuse Mets. Eight out of the Mets nine starters got at least one hit, and every single starter reached base at least once. Seven different players drove in at least one run in the 11-run outburst on the night. JT Riddle led the crowd, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and three runs driven in. Truist Field in Charlotte is known for being a hitter’s paradise, and this week has held true to form. The series thus far has been an absolute scoring bonanza with the two teams combining for 76 runs in the first three games. The two teams have also combined for 17 home runs in the first four games of the series. Syracuse and Charlotte continue their six-game series with the penultimate game on Saturday night with first pitch slated for 7:04 p.m.

Ponies Doubled Up by Squirrels Friday Night in Richmond RICHMOND, VA – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies fell to the Richmond Flying Squirrels 8-4 on Friday night at The Diamond, as the two teams have split the first four games of the series. Richmond (14-28, 54-57) got off to an early 3-0 lead in the first against Oscar Rojas (0-1), making his first Double-A start. The Squirrels then added sacrifice flies to right in the third and fourth to make it 5-0. In the sixth, Brandon Martorano hit a two-run shot, his second home run in as many nights to make it 7-0 as part of a three-run sixth. In the seventh, the Ponies (14-28, 42-69) mounted a comeback scoring two runs on a pair of RBI singles from Matt Winaker and Wyatt Young to cut the deficit to 8-2. In the eighth, they made it 8-4 on an RBI single from Hayden Senger and a sacrifice fly from Jeremy Vasquez. Wyatt Young led off the ninth with a walk and Luke Ritter lined a two out double to left center field that put runners on second and third with two out. Cole Waites struck Senger out swinging to end the game. Keaton Winn (1-0), making his Double-A debut for Richmond, allowed two hits over five scoreless frames with four walks and three strikeouts. Senger, Ronny Mauricio, Matt Winaker, and Luke Ritter all had multi-hit games. Senger and Winaker reached base a combined seven times. The two teams continue their series on Saturday night with first pitch at 6:05 PM and pregame coverage getting underway at 5:50 PM. Postgame Notes: Young’s RBI single in the seventh extended his on-base streak to 25 games.

Golf Legues Getting Ready For Playoffs Local Sullivan County Golf leagues are nearing the end of regular season play and some have already set up their league playoff schedule. League play finds a tight race for first place in the Twin Village Monday Men's league with Brock & Brock in first place with an 182.0 score followed by Husson IV and Husson III close behind with a 181.0 record. In the Tuesday Night Par league at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club Tanous and Wilhelm lead the league with 110.0 wins while second place see's Fanning and Marciano with 102.5 wins. In the Tuesday Men's league at Tarry Brae another close race with Yaun & Gilmore in first (167.0), Green and Garcia in second with 165.0 and Bonsick & Cassevah in third place with a 160.0 points. Another tight race in the Sullivan Travel league between Sullivan and DeVantier in first place with 188.0 wins followed by Thomas and Husson in second place with a 185.5 win record. Makes the leagues much more competative with the top teams battling it out for championships. Golf Not In Healthy Relationship The PGA Tour fired back recently at a lawsuit filed by professional golfers who recently jointed the rival LIV Golf Tour.....dubbing them "Saudi Golf League Employees," according to a memo obtained by Yahoo Finance. Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and nine others LIV golfers filed an antitrust complaint against the PGA Tour. Within hours the PGA Tour responded in a scorching memo to members from Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. The memo said, "it's an attempt to use the TOUR platform to promote themselves and to free ride on your benefits and efforts," PGA Tour Commissoner Monahan write to members. "To allow re-entry into our events compromises the Tour and the competition, to the detriment of our organization, our players, our partners and our fans. The lawsuit they have filed somehow expects us to believe the opposite, which is why we intend to make our case clearly and vigorously." In a statement to Yahoo Finance, LIV Golf said, "The players are right to have brought this action to challenge the PGA's anti-competitive rules and to vindicate their rights as independent contractors to play where and when they choose. Despite the PGA Tour's effort to stifle competition, we think golfers should be allowed to play golf." The discourse between the PGA Tour and its suspeded members has grown as more players have joined the LIV Tour. Sources with knowledge of the situation have told Yahoo Finance the Tour views LIV as a competitive threat and is trying to improve its own product to compete with it. "We're very much open to any conversations with the PGA Tour around what the future would look like," LIV Golf COO and President Atui Khosla told Yahoo Finance. "We feel like there is space for both products in the ecosystem," Khosla added. It will be interesting to see if any negotiations do take place......it is presently not healthy for the sport of golf. The Golf Tip By Robert Menges How to start your Downswing to become more consistent. To start your downswing you want to feel as though your hands stay at the top of the back swing and your front leg starts the downswing. Of course this won't happen but that's the feeling you should have. You should also experiment with a different part of your front leg to start your downswing. I recommend using your front knee or your front hip. So simply swing back as normal and then feel as though your hands do nothing because it should be your front knee or hip that pulls your downswing into action. A good drill to get this feeling is to swing back as normal but pull your front foot in so it touches your back foot at the top of the back swing. And then to start your downswing simply move your front foot into it's normal position and swing through. This will help to teach you the correct chain of events for the downswing. Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. Call him to see if he is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered , he can be reached by phone at 845-292-0323 or 845-866-5567 or via email at bobmenges22@gmail.com ************************ Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the Sport of Golf and brings over 60 years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column, online at http://bght.blogspot.com or email at bght75@gmail.com If you have league or tournament information, shoot a hole-in-one or even score your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177.

Ponies Doubled Up by Squirrels Friday Night in Richmond RICHMOND, VA – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies fell to the Richmond Flying Squirrels 8-4 on Friday night at The Diamond, as the two teams have split the first four games of the series. Richmond (14-28, 54-57) got off to an early 3-0 lead in the first against Oscar Rojas (0-1), making his first Double-A start. The Squirrels then added sacrifice flies to right in the third and fourth to make it 5-0. In the sixth, Brandon Martorano hit a two-run shot, his second home run in as many nights to make it 7-0 as part of a three-run sixth. In the seventh, the Ponies (14-28, 42-69) mounted a comeback scoring two runs on a pair of RBI singles from Matt Winaker and Wyatt Young to cut the deficit to 8-2. In the eighth, they made it 8-4 on an RBI single from Hayden Senger and a sacrifice fly from Jeremy Vasquez. Wyatt Young led off the ninth with a walk and Luke Ritter lined a two out double to left center field that put runners on second and third with two out. Cole Waites struck Senger out swinging to end the game. Keaton Winn (1-0), making his Double-A debut for Richmond, allowed two hits over five scoreless frames with four walks and three strikeouts. Senger, Ronny Mauricio, Matt Winaker, and Luke Ritter all had multi-hit games. Senger and Winaker reached base a combined seven times. The two teams continue their series on Saturday night with first pitch at 6:05 PM and pregame coverage getting underway at 5:50 PM. Postgame Notes: Young’s RBI single in the seventh extended his on-base streak to 25 games.

HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES GAME REPORT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Hudson Valley 11 Brooklyn 4 Renegades Broadcast Highlights (credit: Hudson Valley Renegades/MiLB.tv): 08-18 HVR Broadcast Highlights at BRK BROOKLYN, N.Y. (August 18, 2022) — Jasson Domínguez and Tyler Hardman powered the Hudson Valley Renegades to an 11-4 win over the Brooklyn Cylones on Wednesday night at Maimonides Park. Domínguez finished 3-for-6 with a two-run homer, a triple, and three runs scored, while Hardman went 3-for-5 with a solo shot, a double, a two-run single, a walk, and three runs scored. The Gades tallied 16 hits and nine walks, jumping into the first place with the victory. Brooklyn plated a run in the bottom of the first against Hudson Valley starter Blas Castaño. Jose Peroza roped an RBI double to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead. The Renegades rallied for three in the top of the third against Junior Santos (6-12). Trey Sweeney and Domínguez singled to start the inning, Hardman banged an RBI double, Domínguez scored on a wild pitch, and Anthony Seigler lined an RBI single to put Hudson Valley in front 3-1. The Cyclones struck back in the bottom of the inning. Peroza racked up another RBI with a single to center, shaving the deficit to 3-2. Hudson Valley continued a run of four consecutive run-scoring frames in the top of the fourth. Spencer Henson doubled, Aldenis Sanchez singled, and Sweeney bounced an RBI grounder, scoring Henson from third to extend the lead to 4-2. In the top of the fifth, Henson rocked another RBI double to make it 5-2 Renegades. Henson finished 3-for-4 with a walk, three doubles, and an RBI. Alex Ramirez smoked an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to pull Brooklyn within two at 5-3. Castaño (4-7) grinded out five innings for Hudson Valley, allowing three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out six. In the top of the sixth, Hardman stroked a two-run single to center to create a 7-3 cushion. In all, the Renegades tagged Santos for seven runs on nine hits in three innings. Brooklyn showed life in the bottom of the seventh. William Lugo singled home Matt Rudick to trim the Hudson Valley lead to 7-4. In the top of the eighth, Domínguez tripled to left-center and scored on a wild pitch to push the edge to four at 8-4. The Renegades mashers put the icing on the cake in the top of the ninth. Domínguez launched an opposite-field two-run homer and Hardman crushed a no-doubt blast to make it 11-4 Hudson Valley. The back-to-back blasts were the first pair of consecutive home runs for the Renegades since July 3 against Brooklyn. Kevin Milam and Carlos Gomez combined for four excellent innings out of the Hudson Valley bullpen, allowing only one run on two hits to seal the win. Hudson Valley continues its six-game series with the Brooklyn Cyclones on Wednesday night at Maimonides Park. RHP Josue Panacual (2-5, 5.80) toes the slab for the Renegades, while the Cyclones send RHP Christian Scott (0-0, 0.00) to the bump. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Coverage begins on the Renegades Baseball Network at 6:45. Hudson Valley Renegades Record: 59-51, 25-19