JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to take an 8-7 lead, the Syracuse Mets connected on back-to-back home runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead for good in a 10-9 Syracuse win Wednesday night at VyStar Ballpark.
Summoned for the save opportunity in the ninth, Jacksonville (57-57, 15-25) reliever Jake Walkinshaw (L, 1-1) served up a double to Ronny Mauricio and a two-run home run to Christopher Morel (11), vaulting Syracuse (57-58, 19-21) to the lead. Eric Wagaman (4) crushed a solo homer one batter later to make it 10-8.
Jacksonville’s ninth inning comeback fell short after Deyvison De Los Santos’s (16) second home run of the game set the final margin at 10-9. Zach Franklin (SV, 6) locked down the game and stranded the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.
The Jumbo Shrimp broke the deadlock early when Brayden Taylor led off the second inning with a walk, his first of four on the night, and Matthew Etzel (13) smashed a two-run home run to right to put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead 2-0.
Jonathon Long added on in the fifth when he tripled to right field and made his way around the bases on an errant throw back to the infield from Morel.
After Jacksonville starter Patrick Monteverde no-hit Syracuse through five innings, the Mets pieced together a five-run rally against the Jumbo Shrimp bullpen to flip the scoreboard. A one-out double from Wagaman set up a two-run homer for MJ Melendez (13). Jose Ramos doubled two batters later, Shawn Ross singled and Zack Short (3) launched a three-run shot down the left field line to give Syracuse a 5-2 lead.
The Mets tacked on two more in the seventh on a trio of one-out hits. Morel singled and scored on a Wagaman double, and Melendez plated Wagaman with a single to push the Syracuse advantage to 7-3.
The Jumbo Shrimp’s five run eighth inning began with a Cam Cannarella walk, Long single and a three-run De Los Santos homer to cut the deficit to one. Joe Jacques (W, 4-0) came in from the Syracuse bullpen and surrendered another walk to Taylor, who scored from first on an Etzel single to right, coupled with another fielding error from Morel. With Etzel now at third, a pair of intentional walks to Johnny Olmstead and Garret Forrester loaded the bases for Cannarella, who was hit by a pitch, scoring Etzel and giving Jacksonville an 8-7 lead.
The series continues Thursday at 7:05 p.m. with Jacksonville righty Zach Brzykcy (3-2, 3.76) scheduled to start on the mound opposite Syracuse southpaw Jonathan Santucci (0-1, 4.82)
Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on Bally Live, MLB.tv, MiLB.tv, ESPN 690 and espn690.com.
Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and can enjoy Thirsty Thursday presented by Coors Light with $2 (16-oz. drafts) and $3 (24-oz. drafts) at various locations throughout the ballpark as well as a $20 Thirsty Thursday ticket package (More Info). Have you ever played bean boozled? It’s time for Pudding or Mayonnaise. Find a promo team member if you're wanting to participate in this challenge... two foods looking the same, but taste completely different. It's up to YOU if you want to take this risk!
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The 2025 International League and Triple-A National Champions, the Jumbo Shrimp call VyStar Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.