Syracuse, NY — The Syracuse Mets scored five unanswered runs and defeated the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 6-2, on Friday at NBT Bank Stadium.
Lehigh Valley (32-40, 67-80) struck first in the fourth inning when Raider Tello singled home Otto Kemp, who had reached on a hit by pitch, to give the IronPigs a 1-0 lead.
Syracuse (42-30, 80-67) answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Vidal Bruján and Eric Wagaman singled before Jose Ramos drove home Bruján with a double to tie the game. Hayden Senger followed with a single, but Ramos was thrown out at third to end the inning.
Bruján put the Mets ahead in the fifth with his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center field. Syracuse added three more runs in the sixth. Ramos walked and Senger singled before Zack Short walked to load the bases. D’Andre Smith then singled home Ramos and Senger, and Bruján grounded out to bring home Short and make it 5-1.
The IronPigs pulled within three in the seventh on Tello’s first Triple-A home run, but Syracuse added an insurance run in the eighth. Jefferson Rojas reached on a fielding error, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before MJ Melendez doubled him home. The Mets held the 6-2 lead the rest of the way.
Bruján went 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs batted in. Senger collected two hits and scored once, while Ramos went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk. Melendez added a double and one walk, and Smith drove in two runs.
Justin Hagenman got the start and worked four innings, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts. Ben Simon followed with two scoreless innings, while Kevin Herget allowed one run in the seventh. Saul Garcia and Chayce McDermott each worked a scoreless inning to close out the victory.
With the win, Syracuse remains alive in the International League second half playoff picture. At the end of the game, Syracuse sits one game back of Indianapolis.
Syracuse continues its series tomorrow against Lehigh Valley with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.