On Friday night at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs took on the Syracuse Mets in game four of the series. The IronPigs have won the first three games and were looking to extend their winning streak to six games.
Bailey Falter (4-0, 1.56 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley, while the Mets started Connor Grey (4-5, 5.79 ERA).
Before the game, the Philadelphia Phillies announced that infielder Nick Maton was recalled and infielder Yairo Munoz was optioned to Lehigh Valley.
At the top of the first inning, Mets’ first baseman Daniel Palka hit a home run into the KLYR Bar at right field for a 1-0 lead with two outs. Falter got Travis Blankenhorn to ground out that ended the inning.
At the top of the third inning, IronPigs Bailey Falter walked Deven Marrero, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Terrance Gore, moving Marrero to second base with Nick Plummer up to bat. Plummer doubled off the wall to right field, scoring Marrero for a 2-0 lead.
Mets’ catcher Francisco Alvarez was up next with one out. He hit a two-run home run into the IronPigs bullpen at left field for a 4-0 lead. Falter got Daniel Palka to pop out and struck out Travis Blankenhorn to retire the side.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the fifth inning, IronPigs’ first baseman Josh Ockimey doubled to the corner of right field. It was the first IronPigs hit of the game. After IronPigs’ center fielder Chris Sharpe flied out, catcher Rafael Marchan singled towards a diving Deven Marrero and beat the throw to first base. Meanwhile, Josh Ockimey scored, cutting the Mets lead 4-1. Unfortunately, Will Toffey grounded into a double play that ended the inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, IronPigs pitcher Bailey Falter got JT Riddle to fly out before being taken out of the game for Jace Fry. Falter went 6.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs, one walk, and three strikeouts in 77 pitches.
Jace Fry gave up a single to Deven Marrero before getting Terrance Gore to ground out towards Will Toffey, who threw the ball to Scott Kingery, tagging Marrero out. Finally, Rafael Marchan gunned down Gore while trying to steal the second base that ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, IronPigs’ left fielder Jorge Bonifacio hit a home run just over the fence at left field, cutting the Mets’ lead, 4-2, with one out and Josh Ockimey coming to the plate.
Ockimey struck out, followed by a Chris Sharpe walk with Rafael Marchan coming to the plate. Marchan grounded towards Mets’ third baseman JT Riddle, who made the throw over to second base to end the inning.
Mark Appel was the new IronPigs pitcher to start the top of the eighth inning. Jace Fry went 0.2 IP, allowed one hit, no runs, no walks, and no strikeouts in 12 pitches. Appel got Nick Plummer to ground out before hitting Francisco Alvarez. Mets’ first baseman Daniel Palka was next, and he singled to right field, moving Alvarez to second base for Travis Blankenhorn.
Blankenhorn singled to right field, scoring Alvarez for a 5-2 lead. Then, Nic Dini singled over Josh Ockimey’s head and into right field, scoring Palka for a 6-2 lead. That was it for Appel, who was replaced by Michael Kelly. Kelly struck out Gosuke Katoh and JT Riddle to end the inning.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the ninth inning, Michel Otanez was the new pitcher for the Mets. He struck out designated hitter Donny Sands and right fielder Justin Williams for two outs. Then, Jorge Bonifacio reached first base on a fielding error by JT Riddle when he lost control of the ball, and it fell to the ground.
Otanez walked Josh Ockimey and Chris Sharpe, loading the bases for Rafael Marchan. Otanez walked Marchan, forcing in a run, and it was 6-3 Mets with Will Toffey coming to the plate. The Mets made a pitching change with Rob Zastryzny in for Otanez. Zastryzny struck out Toffey, and the IronPigs’ five-game winning streak ended with a 6-3 loss.
Jacksonville won their game, and Durham lost, meaning the IronPigs are sitting alone in second place at 57-46. Connor Grey was the winning pitcher, and IronPigs starter Bailey Falter lost his first game of the year.
The series continues tonight at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pickup IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
