Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse Mets got a strong performance from their pitching staff and scored three runs in the second inning to defeat the Worcester Red Sox, 3-0, on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Worcester (27-22, 63-57) put a runner on base in each of the first two innings, but Syracuse starter Jonah Tong worked around the traffic to keep the Red Sox off the scoreboard. Tong allowed two hits and two walks while striking out two over five and two-thirds scoreless innings.
Syracuse (25-24, 63-61) broke through in the bottom of the second. Hayden Senger drew a two-out walk before Shawn Ross singled and Zack Short followed with a single to score Senger, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. Émilien Pitre then singled home Ross to make it 2-0, and D’Andre Smith followed with another RBI single to bring home Short and extend the lead to 3-0.
Syracuse's pitching continued to shut down Worcester. Tong retired the first two batters in the sixth before Chris Devenski entered and struck out Romy Gonzalez to end the inning. Devenski worked a scoreless seventh. Devenski faced four batters and retired each of them.
Tobias Myers took over in the eighth. Myers allowed a ninth-inning walk and a two-out double, but he stranded both runners to preserve the shutout. The right-hander struck out one over two scoreless innings.
Pitre finished 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Smith went 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Short also recorded an RBI and scored a run with a two-hit night, and Lorusso added a double.
The Mets and Red Sox wrap up the series Sunday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium. Right-hander Xzavion Curry is scheduled to start for the Mets opposite right-hander Jedixson Paez. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.