Blankenhorn homers in debut, but Syracuse falls to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in series opener, 12-6

*Moosic, PA - *The Syracuse Mets couldn’t snap their lengthy losing streak, falling 12-6 to the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders after surrendering a five-run lead on Tuesday night at PNC Field in Moosic, PA. Travis Blankenhorn homered for Syracuse and had four RBIs for the Mets in the loss.

Syracuse (11-26) had its offense explode in the top of the first inning, putting up five runs on the RailRiders. Jeff McNeil, who was playing the first game of his MLB rehab assignment, led off the inning with a single into center field. Next, Albert Almora Jr., who is also on a rehab assignment, drew a walk. With two on and no outs, Khalil Lee struck out. Blankenhorn followed and blasted a three-run home run over the right-field wall in his first at bat with Syracuse to give the Mets a 5-0 lead.

The RailRiders (24-11) were able to get on the board in the bottom of the first when Estevan Florial led off with a solo home run and made the score 5-1 with the Mets still in front.

In the second, the Mets quickly took their five-run lead right back. Almora led off the inning with a single. Lee followed and grounded into a fielder's choice where Almora was out at second base, but Lee was safe at first. Lee then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Robinson Chirinos. Next, Blankenhorn drove in his fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Lee and increase the Mets lead to 6-1.

The game didn’t see another run until the fifth inning where Florial hit a two-out double to right field. Hoy Park then delivered with an RBI single to bring Scranton/Wilkes-Barre within four, 6-2. That proved to be Mets starter Akeem Bostick’s final inning, who turned in a solid outing. The right-hander finished with five innings pitched, allowing two runs on five hits, walking three, and striking out two.

The RailRiders offense came alive in the seventh. With Armando Alvarez at third and Florial at first, Park delivered with a two-run triple to score Alvarez and Florial and bring the RailRiders within two, 6-4. Trey Amburgey then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Park and cut the deficit to one, 6-5.

In the eighth, Chirinos led the RailRiders off with a double and was replaced at second by pinch-runner Greg Allen. Next, Derek Dietrich walked. Rob Brantly then singled to score Allen and tie the game, 6-6, as Dietrich advanced to third. Alvarez followed and hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to score Dietrich and give Scranton/Wilkes-Barre their first lead, 7-6. With one out, Velazguez doubled to right field and Brantly advanced to third. Florial then continued his stellar night, ripping a double to center to score Brantly and Velazquez and increase the RailRiders lead to three, 9-6. Amburgey hit a sacrifice fly to score Florial and make it 10-6. That wasn’t all, however, for Scranton/Wilkes Barre in the eighth. Allen and Dietrich joined the party with RBI singles to give the RailRiders a 12-6 lead and complete what was a seven-run eighth inning.

The Mets now must wait until Wednesday night for another chance to put a halt to the losing streak. Game two of the series between Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is at 7:05 p.m. from PNC Field in Moosic, PA.