Rochester, NY – A six-run fourth inning and a three-homer day propelled the Syracuse Mets to an 11-6 win over the Rochester Red Wings on Sunday afternoon at ESL Ballpark.
After three scoreless innings, Syracuse (29-27) broke through in the top of the fourth. Andy Ibáñez doubled, Yonny Hernández walked, and Cristian Pache was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kevin Parada followed with a two-run single to right field, scoring Ibáñez and Hernández to put the Mets in front, 2-0. Later in the inning, Matt Rudick singled home Pache, and Nick Morabito launched a three-run home run to left field, stretching the Syracuse lead to 6-0.
Rochester (34-22) got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Brady House hit a solo home run to center field, trimming the deficit to 6-1.
The Mets answered in the fifth. Ryan Clifford launched a solo home run to right-center field, extending the advantage to 7-1. In his last 11 games, Clifford has six home runs, and on the season, leads the team with 13.
Syracuse added another run in the sixth when Jackson Cluff hit a solo homer to right field, making it an 8-1 ballgame.
The Red Wings chipped away in the bottom of the sixth. House hit his second homer of the game, a solo shot to center field, cutting the Syracuse lead to 8-2.
Rochester made its biggest push in the seventh. Harry Ford walked, Joey Wiemer singled, and Tres Barrera singled to load the bases. Phillip Glasser grounded into a force out that scored Ford. After Jonathan Pintaro entered out of the bullpen, Christian Franklin ripped a two-run triple to right field, and Seaver King grounded out to score Franklin, trimming the Mets lead to 8-6.
Syracuse responded in the eighth. Cluff was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Rudick, extending the lead to 9-6.
The Mets added two more runs in the ninth. Ibáñez singled and Clifford walked before Hernández moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch scored Ibáñez, and Cluff followed with an RBI double to left field, scoring Clifford and making it 11-6.
On the mound, Jack Weisenburger started for Syracuse and allowed one run over four and one-third innings with five strikeouts. Nate Lavender followed and worked one and two-thirds innings, allowing one run while striking out five. Joey Gerber entered in the seventh and was charged with three runs before Pintaro came in and recorded the final two outs of the inning. Pintaro then pitched a clean eighth, and Dylan Ross worked around traffic in the ninth to finish the win.
Syracuse is back in action on Tuesday night against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.