Syracuse, NY – The Columbus Clippers scored 11 runs in the first inning and never looked back, defeating the Syracuse Mets, 15-7, on Tuesday.
Columbus (17-17, 58-50) wasted no time jumping in front, sending 16 batters to the plate in the opening frame. Angel Genao led off the game with a home run before Ralphy Velazquez added a two-run homer later in the inning. George Valera also homered, while Daniel Schneemann delivered a two-run single and Cooper Ingle added a two-run single as the Clippers built an 11-0 advantage.
The 11 runs allowed in a single inning was the most allowed by Syracuse in an inning this season.
Syracuse (14-19, 52-56) answered with four runs in the bottom of the first. Nick Morabito reached on an error before Christopher Morel launched a two-run home run to left-center field. Later in the inning, Mike Tauchman reached on another Columbus error, setting up Nick Lorusso's two-run homer in his Triple-A debut to trim the deficit to 11-4.
The Clippers added to their lead in the fourth when Genao hit his second home run of the day, a two-run shot that made it 13-4.
Columbus tacked on two more runs in the seventh. Kahlil Watson singled home one run before Velazquez added an RBI single to extend the Clippers' lead to 15-4.
The Mets got one run back in the bottom of the seventh. D'Andre Smith was hit by a pitch before Vidal Bruján doubled into the right-field corner to score Smith, making it a 15-5 game.
Syracuse added two more runs in the ninth inning. Jose Ramos tripled to begin the frame and scored on Hayden Senger's RBI single. After D'Andre Smith singled, Bruján grounded into a fielder's choice that brought home Senger, but the Mets could get no closer.
Dakota Hawkins was charged with the loss after allowing eight runs runs while recording two outs in the first inning. Ofreidy Gómez followed and worked one and two-thirds innings before Brian Metoyer, Zach Franklin, Dylan Ross, and Dan Hammer combined to cover the final seven innings. Metoyer made his Triple-A debut, recording four strikeouts in one and one-thirds innings. Franklin made his Mets organizational debut after being acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on Monday.
Morel finished 1-for-5 with his ninth home run of the season and two runs batted in. Lorusso homered in his Syracuse debut, while Bruján went 1-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Senger added two hits and an RBI, and Ramos recorded a triple and scored a run.
The Mets continue their six-game series against the Clippers on Wednesday at NBT Bank Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.