On Tuesday, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (14-11) won their fifth game in a row at NBT Bank Stadium against the Syracuse Mets (8-16) in game one of the six-game series.
Ricardo Sanchez (0-0, 4.38 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while the Mets started Thomas Szapucki (0-1, 3.38 ERA).
At the top of the second inning, the IronPigs struck first. IronPigs’ third baseman Yairo Munoz was up at-bat with runners on the corners.
The Mets’ defense was set up to turn a double play in exchange for a run. They got their wish. Munoz grounded into a double play, scoring a run for a 1-0 IronPigs lead with two outs. The Mets got IronPigs’ second baseman Drew Maggi to fly out for the third out.
The IronPigs extended their lead at the top of the third inning. IronPigs’ right field John Andreoli was up at-bat with a runner on first base. Andreoli doubled on a line drive to left field, scoring a run that made it 2-0 IronPigs.
Three batters later, IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall singled on a ground ball to center field, bringing home Andreoli for a 3-0 lead. It was Hall’s 30th RBI of the season.
IronPigs’ starter Ricardo Sanchez was mowing down the Mets’ batters. He had five strikeouts in four innings. Sanchez finished the game pitching four innings, allowing three hits, no runs, two walks, and five strikeouts.
At the top of the fifth inning, the IronPigs were gifted another run. IronPigs’ center fielder Dustin Peterson was up at-bat with runners on second and third base. A balk was called against Mets’ relief pitcher Eric Orze, and the IronPigs lead was now 4-0. Orze was unhappy with the call and struck out the next three IronPigs’ batters to end the inning.
IronPigs’ relief pitcher Jeff Singer took over for Ricardo Sanchez in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jeff Singer made quick work in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, he ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Mets’ right fielder Nick Plummer was up at-bat with a runner on first base and hit a two-run home run out to center field, cutting the IronPigs lead 4-2.
It got worse for Singer when he walked Mets’ designated hitter Daniel Palka and hit Mets’ second baseman Travis Blankenhorn with nobody out. Hammonton, New Jersey, native Joe Gatto replaced Jeff Singer. Gatto worked out a jam and got the three outs to keep the IronPigs lead at 4-2.
The IronPigs got the two runs back at the top of the eighth inning. IronPigs’ second baseman Drew Maggi was up at-bat with runners on first and second base. Maggi singled on a ground ball to right field, scoring two runs for a 6-2 lead. Maggi advanced to third base on a throwing error by Mets’ right fielder Nick Plummer.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the ninth inning, Tyler Cyr was the new pitcher for the IronPigs. Cyr walked Mets’ first baseman Mark Vientos, followed by a single to Mets’ catcher Patrick Mazeika, putting runners on the corners for Mets’ center fielder Carlos Cortes.
Cortes hit a sacrifice fly out to right field, bringing home a run that made it 6-3 IronPigs with two outs. Finally, Tyler Cyr struck out Mets’ left fielder Khalil Lee to end the game, and the IronPigs beat the Mets 6-3.
The win went to IronPigs relief pitcher Joe Gatto (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO), while the loss went to Mets’ starter Thomas Szapucki (4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 SO).
Game two of the six-game series continues today at 6:45 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
