Syracuse Mets Recap: Melendez Delivers Walk-Off Double as Mets Edge WooSox, 4-3

Box Score

Syracuse, N.Y. – MJ Melendez delivered a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Syracuse Mets held off a late Worcester rally for a 4-3 victory on Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium.

Syracuse (24-24, 62-61) and Worcester (27-21, 64-55) were scoreless through the first four innings before the Mets broke through in the fifth. Hayden Senger walked and eventually reached third before Ronny Mauricio lined a two-out RBI single to center, scoring Senger and giving Syracuse a 1-0 lead.

The Mets added two more runs in the sixth. D'Andre Smith opened the scoring threat with a ground-rule double before Senger singled him home to make it 2-0. Senger later stole second, advanced to third on Zack Short's single and scored when Nick Morabito lined an RBI single to center, extending the Syracuse advantage to 3-0.

Jack Wenninger kept Worcester off the scoreboard over five dominant innings, and Ofreidy Gómez followed with two more scoreless frames as Syracuse carried the three-run lead into the eighth.

Worcester began its comeback against Matt Turner. Nate Baez and Nate Eaton drew consecutive one-out walks before Franklin Arias doubled to left field, scoring both runners and cutting the Mets' lead to 3-2. Ben Simon entered and retired Trevor Story and Kristian Campbell to strand Arias and preserve the lead.

The WooSox tied the game in the ninth. Romy Gonzalez led off with a double to right field before Allan Castro singled to center, scoring Gonzalez and evening the game at 3-3. Simon responded by getting Vinny Capra to ground into a double play and retired Nate Baez after a two-out walk to keep the game tied.

Syracuse won it in the bottom half. Mauricio singled with one out before Billy Amick was hit by a pitch. Mauricio was then picked off and caught stealing third, with Amick advancing to second on the play. Melendez followed by ripping a double to left field, scoring Amick and giving the Mets the 4-3 walk-off victory.

On the mound, Wenninger tossed five scoreless and hitless innings, walking two and striking out six. Gómez followed with two scoreless, hitless innings, allowing one walk while striking out five.

Turner recorded one out in the eighth and was charged with two runs on one hit and two walks. Simon recorded the final five outs, allowing one run on two hits and one walk.

Melendez's walk-off double was his ninth double of the season. Senger scored twice and drove in a run, while Mauricio collected two hits and drove in Syracuse's first run. Morabito added an RBI single in the sixth.

The Mets and Red Sox continue their six-game series on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Right-hander Jonah Tong is scheduled to start for Syracuse against right-hander John Holobetz for Worcester. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.