Syracuse, NY — Jefferson Rojas' three-RBI day lifted the Syracuse Mets over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 9-8, on Thursday at NBT Bank Stadium.
Lehigh Valley (32-39, 67-79) jumped ahead in the first inning on a two-run home run from Kameron Misner, but Syracuse (41-30, 79-67) answered with three runs in the bottom half. D’Andre Smith singled and stole second before Jefferson Rojas was hit by a pitch. After MJ Melendez walked, Vidal Bruján singled home Smith, and Eric Wagaman followed with a two-run double to give Syracuse a 3-2 lead.
The IronPigs regained the lead with a three-run second inning. Nick Biddison and Jordan Dissin reached to start the frame before Misner singled them both home. Keaton Anthony followed with an RBI single to put Lehigh Valley ahead 5-3.
Syracuse responded with four runs in the bottom of the second. Kevin Parada walked and Smith singled before Rojas doubled home Parada. Mauricio then reached on a fielder’s choice and an error, allowing Smith and Rojas to score. After a pickoff throwing error moved Mauricio to third, Bruján lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him home and put the Mets ahead 7-5.
Lehigh Valley tied the game in the third on Gabriel Rincones Jr.’s two-run home run. Rojas answered with his third home run of the series in the bottom half, a solo shot that restored Syracuse’s lead at 8-7. The IronPigs tied the game again in the fourth on Biddison’s RBI single, but Syracuse moved back in front in the fifth when Rojas’ sacrifice fly scored Parada. The Mets held the 9-8 advantage the rest of the way.
Rojas finished with 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a double, and a home run. Smith went 2-for-5 and scored twice, while Bruján went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Parada and Wagaman also collected multi-hit games.
Jack Wenninger got the start, worked 1.2 IP with six hits, five runs, two walks and one strikeout. Matt Seelinger and Ryan Lambert worked the next 2.1 innings, allowing three runs. Brian Metoyer, Dylan Ross, Matt Turner, and Zach Franklin combined to shutout the IronPigs from innings five through nine to hold onto the win.
With the victory, the Mets are 1.5 games back of Rochester and Indianapolis, who are tied at the top of the International League second half standings with three games to play.
Syracuse continues its series tomorrow against Lehigh Valley with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Justin Hagenman is scheduled to start against right-hander Drake Fellows.