The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (60-65) and the Syracuse Mets (70-57) played game three of a six-game series on Thursday night from Coca-Cola Park. Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel (3-9, 5.88 ERA) was on the mound against Syracuse’s Mike Vasil (7-8, 5.67 ERA).
At the top of the second inning, Syracuse had runners on the corners when Mike Brosseau hit an RBI single to third baseman Buddy Kennedy scoring Jackie Bradley Jr. for a 1-0 lead. Next, Syracuse shortstop Yolmer Sánchez hit a two-run triple to right field scoring Carlos Cortes and Mike Brosseau extending the Mets lead 3-0.
Two batters later with one out, Syracuse second baseman Luisangel Acuña brought Sánchez for a 4-0 lead. Syracuse center fielder Drew Gilbert lined out toward Lehigh Valley right fielder David Dahl for the final out of the inning.
Moving to the top of the fifth inning, Syracuse had a runner on second base with one out when right fielder D.J. Stewart hit an RBI single to right field scoring Luisangel Acuña for a 5-0 lead.
Three batters later, Syracuse had runners on first and second base with two outs when designated hitter Carlos Cortes hit a two-run RBI double to left field scoring D.J. Stewart and Luke Ritter for a 7-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel was replaced by Alan Rangel. A flyout by Mike Brosseau ended the inning. Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel (4.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) threw 92 pitches, of which 60 were strikes.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley had a runner on first base with two outs when designated hitter Kody Clemens hit Vasil’s fastball for a two-run home run clearing the wall at right field and the IronPigs trailed the Mets 7-2. It was Clemens’s 12th home run of the season and 48th RBI of the year. Lehigh Valley right field David Dahl grounded out to first baseman Mike Brosseau for the final out of the inning.
At the top of the seventh inning, Syracuse center fielder Drew Gilbert hit Rangel’s fastball for a solo home run over the wall at right field for an 8-2 lead. Six batters later with two outs and the bases loaded, Syracuse shortstop Yolmer Sánchez hit an RBI single to left field scoring Luke Ritter for a 9-2 lead.
Then, Syracuse catcher Logan Porter hit Rangel’s fastball for a grand slam onto the berm at left-center field for a 13-2 lead. Lehigh Valley pitcher Alan Rangel was replaced by Tyler Gilbert. A flyout by Luisangel Acuña to center fielder Cal Stevenson ended the inning. Alan Rangel (2.0 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 K) threw 43 pitches, of which 28 were strikes. Tyler Gilbert (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K) threw 15 pitches, of which 9 were strikes.
Diego Gonzalez was the new pitcher for Lehigh Valley at the top of the ninth inning. Gonzalez (1.0 IP) threw 13 pitches, of which 7 were strikes to get three outs. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Tyler Zuber was the new pitcher for Syracuse.
Lehigh Valley third baseman Buddy Kennedy started the inning with a single to center field and stole second base. Lehigh Valley designated hitter Kody Clemens struck out, and David Dahl flies out toward left field Jackie Bradley Jr. Next, Lehigh Valley second baseman Jim Haley hit an RBI double to right field scoring Buddy Kennedy and the IronPigs trailed the Mets 13-3. It was Haley’s 34 RBI of the season.
Then, Lehigh Valley right fielder Matt Kroon hit a single to right field. Lehigh Valley catcher Aramis Garcia was next. He hit an RBI single to right field scoring Haley and the IronPigs trailed the Mets 13-4. It was Garcia’s 25th RBI of the season.
Lehigh Valley center fielder Cal Stevenson followed up with a two-run RBI double to center field scoring Matt Kroon and Aramis Garcia. Syracuse’s lead was down to 13-6. It was Stevenson’s 24th double of the season and 43rd RBI of the season.
Lehigh Valley’s run ended when shortstop Scott Kingery grounded out to third baseman Mike Brosseau and the game was over. The IronPigs lost to the Mets 13-6 for their second straight loss. They are now 1-2 in the series against Syracuse.
Lehigh Valley finished the night with 9 hits and committed two errors. The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Mick Abel for his 10th loss of the season, and the win went to Syracuse starter Mike Vasil.
The IronPigs and Mets play game four of the six-game series on Friday night at 7:05 pm on MiLB.TV. Purchase IronPigs tickets for the 2024 season today on StubHub and Viagogo.
