The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (14-15) continued their six-game series on Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium for game three against the Syracuse Mets (15-15). Coming into this game, the IronPigs put their two-game winning streak on the line.
Cristopher Sanchez (0-1, 4.26 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Syracuse’s Dylan Bundy (0-1, 12.41 ERA).
There were four home runs in the first two innings, two by each team. At the top of the second inning, Lehigh Valley right fielder Jordan Qsar hit his sixth home run off a breaking ball for a two-run home run out to right field for a 2-0 lead.
Then, designated hitter Vimael Machin hit a solo home run over the Salt City Deck building at right field for a 3-0 lead.
The Mets returned the favor in the bottom of the third inning when DJ Stewart hit his fifth home run off Sanchez’s curveball out to right field, cutting Lehigh Valley’s lead to 3-1. Next, Jaylin Davis hit Sanchez’s fastball also out to right field, making it a one-run game, 3-2. It was Davis’s fourth home run of the season.
For the next three innings, the IronPigs scored four runs. A Weston Wilson two-run double made it 5-3 at the top of the third inning.
Jake Cave and Simon Muzziotti drove runs home at the top of the fifth inning and it was now 7-2 Lehigh Valley.
However, bad pitching and defense led to a Syracuse comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ronny Mauricio hit a fly ball toward center fielder Jake Cave and he could not find the ball, resulting in a two-run triple. It was 7-4. Then, Danny Mendick hit a two-run home run into the Mets’ bullpen, now it was 7-6 Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley loaded up the bases but got out of it with an ending double play.
Jesus Cruz attempted to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Khalil Lee was up to bat with two outs and a runner on first base. He tied the game 7-7 with an RBI double to left field on a one-hop off the wall. The game went to extra innings.
The IronPigs would retake the lead at the top of the eleventh inning when Weston Wilson doubled to left field for an 8-7 lead, and Scott Kingery hit a single for a 9-7 lead. In the bottom of the eleventh inning, Hans Crouse attempted to close out the game.
He walked Lorenzo Cedrola before striking out Jaylin Davis. Then, he gave up a single to Jonathan Arauz who scored a run. It was now 9-8 Lehigh Valley. The Mets tied the game again 9-9 when Khalil Lee doubled to right field, scoring Cedrola. To make this worse, the IronPigs manager elected to intently walk Michael Perez that loaded the bases for Tim Locastro.
In a controversial call, the umpire called a catcher’s interference on Aramis Garcia, forcing the game-winning run and the Mets won 10-9. There was no explanation of why Garcia was called for the violation. The replay showed he did not interfere with Locastro and this was a bad way to end the game. The loss also ends the IronPigs’ two-game winning streak. Lehigh Valley are now 6-4 in their last ten games.
However, the game should not have gone this far, the IronPigs could not protect a five-run lead. Lehigh Valley finished the night with nine hits, made two errors, went 5 of 19 with runners in scoring position, and left 16 men on base.
Lehigh Valley pitcher Cristopher Sanchez did a good job pitching 5.1 innings, allowing six hits, two runs, two walks, and four strikeouts in 97 pitches, of which 61 were strikes in a no-decision. He should’ve got the win but the bullpen gave up six hits and eight runs. Hans Crouse lost his second game of the season and the win went to Syracuse pitcher Dennis Santana.
The IronPigs and Mets will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:05 pm on MiLB.com. Tickets for both games are available on StubHub and Viagogo.
