Syracuse Mets Recap: Mets Hold Off IronPigs, Sit Within 1.5 Games of First-Place

Syracuse, NY – Ryan Clifford broke a 4-4 tie with a solo home run in the sixth inning, and the Syracuse bullpen slammed the door from there as the Mets held off the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 5-4, on Wednesday night at NBT Bank Stadium.

Syracuse (40-30, 78-67) sits within 1.5 games of the first-place Indianapolis Indians and Rochester Red Wings in the International League’s second-half standings.

Lehigh Valley (67-78) struck first in the top of the first inning. Gabriel Rincones Jr. reached second on a throwing error before Kameron Misner walked. Keaton Anthony followed with an RBI single to right field, scoring Rincones and putting the IronPigs in front, 1-0.

Syracuse answered immediately in the bottom of the inning. Jefferson Rojas singled with one out before Ronny Mauricio ripped an RBI double to center field, scoring Rojas and tying the game, 1-1. After Vidal Bruján walked, Eric Wagaman lined an RBI single to left field that scored Mauricio and gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.

The Mets added two more runs in the second. Jose Ramos singled and stole second before Rojas launched a two-out, two-run home run to left-center field, his second homer, extending the Syracuse advantage to 4-1.

Lehigh Valley began to chip away in the fifth. Colby Thomas walked and was erased on a force out before Robert Moore hit a two-run home run to right-center field, his 15th of the season, trimming the Mets’ lead to 4-3.

The IronPigs completed the comeback in the sixth. Misner drew a one-out walk against Jonathan Santucci and stole second before Kevin Herget entered from the bullpen. Anthony greeted Herget with an RBI double to left field, scoring Misner and tying the game at 4-4. Herget stranded Anthony at third to keep the game even.

Syracuse needed just one batter to take the lead back. After Billy Amick flied out to begin the bottom of the sixth, Clifford launched his 18th home run of the season to right-center field off Michael Mercado, putting the Mets back in front, 5-4. Hayden Senger later tripled but was stranded at third.

The Syracuse bullpen held the lead after Clifford’s homer. Herget retired all five batters he faced after Anthony's game-tying double, including a perfect seventh inning. Cionel Pérez worked a scoreless eighth, allowing an infield single before Senger threw out Otto Kemp attempting to steal second.

Chayce McDermott then worked a perfect ninth, striking out Anthony and Thomas around a Carter Kieboom flyout to earn his first save and finish off the 5-4 victory.

On the mound, Jonathan Santucci allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits in five and one-third innings. He walked three and struck out six. Kevin Herget earned the win, tossing one and two-thirds scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out two. Cionel Pérez worked one scoreless inning, allowing one hit, and Chayce McDermott struck out two in a perfect ninth to earn the save.

Rojas led the Syracuse offense, going 3-for-3 with a walk, home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Mauricio doubled and drove in a run, Wagaman added an RBI single and Clifford provided the eventual game-winning homer.

The Mets and IronPigs continue their series on Thursday night at NBT Bank Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with RHP Jack Wenninger scheduled to start for Syracuse against RHP Chuck King for Lehigh Valley.