Mets Complete Sweep With 4-1 Win

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Pawtucket Red Sox saw multiple scoring opportunities go by the wayside as they stranded 10 men in scoring position and 13 total on base in a 4-1 loss to the Syracuse Mets in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium. Syracuse completed a sweep in the weekend set.
 
For the third consecutive game, Pawtucket played with only 22 active players (three under the maximum of 25 allowed) after having four players recalled to Boston over the previous three days - Marcus Walden, Tzu-Wei Lin, Michael Chavis and Bobby Poyner.
Pawtucket finished a stretch in which it played 11 of the season's first 16 games (three of the first five series) against Syracuse. The PawSox went 1-6 on in two road series against the Mets, while taking 3 of 4 playing against them at McCoy.
The PawSox picked up nine hits and four walks against five Mets pitchers, and were only retired in order during one of the game's nine innings. Eight of those innings ended with a runner left at either second and/or third base, as Pawtucket finished the day hitting just 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
 
Pawtucket starter Mike Shawaryn (1-2) allowed all four Syracuse runs (three earned) over his five innings of work. Shawaryn, who uncharacteristically walked three and hit one batter, permitted five hits and saw three runs score on sacrifice fly outs.
 
After falling behind 3-0 through four innings, Bryce Brentz drove home Pawtucket's lone run in the top of the fifth with a two-out infield single against winning pitcher Eric Hanhold (1-1). Hanhold had relieved starter Casey Coleman, who twirled four scoreless frames despite allowing five hits and two walks.
 
Adeiny Hechavarría, who drove home at least one run in each of the three games during the series, provided some insurance with an RBI single against Shawaryn in the bottom of the fifth. Travis Lakins (two innings) and Jenrry Mejia (one inning) tossed scoreless relief over the final three frames for Pawtucket.
 
Jantzen Witte (2-for-4, two doubles) and Gorkys Hernández (2-for-4, walk) paced the PawSox offense with multiple hits. Todd Frazier, playing again on a rehab assignment for the Mets, went the full nine innings for Syracuse and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
 
The PawSox open a four-game series against first-place Lehigh Valley Monday night at McCoy Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 pm. Pawtucket right-hander Chandler Shepherd (0-2, 4.91 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Iron Pigs righty Nick Pivetta (2-1, 8.35 in MLB). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM and 104.7 FM) and throughout the PawSox Radio Network begins with the pre-game show at 5:35 p.m.
Good tickets are available for the entire four-game series, and fans can visit the McCoy Stadium box office, which is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., and during all home games. Fans can also call (401) 724-7300 or log on to PawSox.com for tickets.