Offense Goes Cold, Tong Finishes Strong but Mets Drop Doubleheader

Game 1: Box Score

Game 2: Box Score

Buffalo, NY – The Syracuse Mets dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday afternoon at Sahlen Field, falling 2-0 in game one and 4-3 in game two.

In the opener, Syracuse (5-6) was held off the scoreboard despite having a handful of baserunners throughout the game. The Mets stranded five runners on base and hit 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Nick Morabito was 2-3 and MJ Melendez, Ryan Clifford, and José Rojas each had a base hit as well.

Buffalo (5-6) broke through in the second. Charles McAdoo doubled and later scored on a groundout by Riley Tirotta, giving the Bisons a 1-0 lead.

The Bisons added an insurance run in the third. After a walk and an error put runners in scoring position, Eloy Jiménez reached on a fielding error that allowed a run to score, extending the advantage to 2-0.

Syracuse threatened in the sixth with back-to-back singles from Melendez and Morabito, but Buffalo escaped the jam to preserve the shutout.

In game two, the Mets struck early but couldn’t hold on in a 4-3 loss. Buffalo jumped out in the bottom of the first inning when Rafael Lantigua launched a two-run home run to give the Bisons a 2-0 lead.

Syracuse answered in the third with a big inning. After a single by Ben Rortvedt and a double from MJ Melendez plated the first run, Christian Arroyo delivered an RBI single to tie the game. A wild pitch later in the inning brought home Clifford to score, putting the Mets in front, 3-2.

Mets starter Jonah Tong held on to the one-run lead, pitching five innings, retiring the final 12 batters he faced, and struck out seven.

Buffalo stormed right back in the sixth. After an error put a runner aboard, Yohendrick Pinango crushed a two-run home run, giving the Bisons a 4-3 lead.

The Mets were unable to respond late, as Buffalo retired the final eight Syracuse batters to secure the doubleheader sweep.

Syracuse continues its series with Buffalo on Thursday afternoon. Right-hander Christian Scott is slated to pitch for the Mets with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.