Bisons defeat Mets 3-1 behind Stripling’s five shutout frames

SYRACUSE, NY — The Buffalo Bisons defeated the Syracuse Mets 3-1 on Friday night from NBT Bank Stadium to take a three-games-to-one lead in this six-game series.

Ross Stripling made a rehab start for the Herd as he works his way back from a right hip/glute strain, and was superb over five shutout innings of work. Stripling threw 66 pitches, allowing just three hits, without issuing a walk and striking out three.

L.J. Talley opened up the scoring in the second after tripling and scoring off a Logan Warmoth RBI single, before Warmoth came around to score on a sac fly by Stevie Berman.

The Herd tacked on another run in the fifth off an RBI groundout by Nathan Lukes, closing the line on Mets’ starter Jose Butto, who went five innings allowing three runs in his Triple-A debut.

After Eric Yardley threw a scoreless sixth, the Herd had another rehab appearance in the form of Julian Merryweather, who has been on the injured list since June 14 with a left oblique strain. Merryweather had a 19-pitch scoreless inning of work, striking out two and walking one without allowing a hit.

The Mets threatened in the eighth after Francisco Álvarez cashed in Terrance Gore and had the tying run in scoring position with one away, but Vinny Nittoli struck out the final two batters he faced to get out of the jam.

Matt Gage then entered in the ninth with a two-run lead, and despite allowing a single and a walk, eventually closed things out to record his team-leading ninth save and lock up the win.

The Bisons and Mets will continue their series tomorrow evening, with Casey Lawrence set to take the mound against Mike Montgomery at 6:35 p.m. EST.