On Tuesday night, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (40-33) returned to NBT Bank Stadium for a six-game series against the Syracuse Mets (29-44). The last time the IronPigs played the Mets in Syracuse was back in May, and they won the series 4-2.
Cristopher Sanchez (1-0, 2.12 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Mets started Nate Fisher (0-1, 6.00 ERA).
The action picked up in the bottom of the second inning. Cristopher Sanchez struck out Daniel Palka, followed by a single from Mets’ right fielder Travis Blankenhorn. During Patrick Mazeika’s plate appearance, Blankenhorn attempted to steal second base. IronPigs’ catcher Rafael Marchan tried to throw the ball to Scott Kingery, but it went past him, and Blankenhorn took third base.
Then, Mazeika singled on a ground ball to left field, bringing Blankenhorn home, and the Mets took a 1-0 lead. Cristopher Sanchez struck out Luke Ritter and walked Gosuke Katoh before getting Johneshwy Fargas to ground out that retired the side.
At the top of the third inning, IronPigs’ shortstop Daniel Robertson started the inning off by hitting the ball that bounced past two Mets players. Then, Dalton Guthrie struck out, followed by a single from Donny Sands. Next, IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall popped out, and Dustin Peterson singled to load the bases.
IronPigs’ catcher Rafael Marchan was up next and singled to right field, tying the game 1-1. Then, IronPigs’ left fielder Jorge Bonifacio had a chance to do damage with the bases loaded, but he flied out for the third out.
In the bottom of the third inning, IronPigs’ starter Cristopher Sanchez made his final appearance. He gave up a single to Deven Marrero, walked Khalil Lee, and got back-to-back strikeouts from Mark Vientos and Daniel Palka. Then, on a 1-1 count, Sanchez was able to get Travis Blankenhorn to ground out, which retired the side.
Sanchez had a decent game, throwing a lot of low pitches away from the strike zone. Most of the Mets batters chased it, while others stayed away. He went three innings and allowed three hits, one run, two walks, and five strikeouts on 58 pitches. Sanchez should’ve gone another inning. Instead, Joe Gatto replaced him in the bottom of the fourth inning.
On a 0-1 count, Gatto gave up a home run just over the right field wall to Patrick Mazeika, putting the Mets back in the lead, 2-1. Gatto got a ground out from Luke Ritter, struck out Gosuke Katoh, and another ground out by Johneshwy Fargas to end the inning.
Moving ahead to the top of the sixth inning, the IronPigs tied the game. Yoan Lopez was the new Mets pitcher. After Rafael Marchan flied out and a Jorge Bonifacio strikeout, IronPigs’ third baseman Will Toffey doubled on a line drive to right field with two outs. Lopez walked Scott Kingery before Daniel Robertson singled to right field, scoring Toffy that tied the game, 2-2. The IronPigs could not add any more runs. Dalton Guthrie was up at bat next and grounded into a forceout that retired the side.
At the top of the seventh inning, the IronPigs took their first lead of the game. Bryce Montes de Oca was the new Mets pitcher. He gave up a single to Donny Sands before striking out Darick Hall. Then, Oca walked Dustin Peterson, followed by a Rafael Marchan forceout when the ball fell in-between three Mets players, and Peterson was out at second base.
IronPigs’ left fielder Jorge Bonifacio singled to right field, scoring Sands making it 3-2. Once again, the IronPigs could’ve blown the game open, but Will Toffey flied out for the third out.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Ofreidy Gomez was the new IronPigs pitcher. He was making his IronPigs debut after playing 14 games in Reading with a 1-2 record and a 1.35 ERA. Unfortunately for Gomez, he gave up back-to-back walks to Deven Marrero and Khalil Lee. Then, he got Mark Vientos to ground out for the first out. However, Nick Meyer singled on a ground ball to center field, scoring both runners, and the Mets went back ahead 4-3.
After giving up a double to Travis Blankenhorn, Gomez was done, and Jace Fry came in, making his IronPigs debut. He struck out Patrick Mazeika that ended the inning. The walks by Gomez were a killer, and luckily Fry prevented any more runs from scoring.
Moving ahead to the top of the ninth inning, R.J. Alvarez was the new Mets pitcher, looking to close out the game. IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall was up at-bat. He was 0-4 on the night until he crushed a solo home run over the Salt City Deck at right field, tying the game 4-4. It was Hall’s 20th home run of the season and is now nine home runs away from tying the single-season home run record set by Rhys Hoskins in 2017. Then, Dustin Peterson singled, followed by a fly out from Rafael Marchan for the first out.
A single by Jorge Bonifacio put runners on first and second base for Will Toffey. Unfortunately, Toffey and Scott Kingery both struck out to end the inning. The IronPigs left a lot of runners in scoring position. Had they been able to drive those runs home, this game would be a blowout.
Nick Duron was the new IronPigs pitcher in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mets’ shortstop Deven Marrero singled on a ground ball that was bare-handed by Will Toffey. He picked up the ball and threw it wide past Darick Hall, allowing Marrero to second base. Then, after getting Khalil Lee to strike out, Mark Vientos flied out to right field, moving Marrero to third base. Finally, Nick Meyer hit a game-winning single to center field. Dalton Guthrie tried to dive for the ball but was nowhere close to it, and the IronPigs lost the game 5-4.
The win went to Mets’ pitcher R.J. Alvarez (1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 SO), and the loss went to IronPigs’ Nick Duron (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 SO).
The series continues today at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
