Tejada hits for cycle, but Mets fall to Knights, 9-7

Charlotte, NC - Rubén Tejada became the second Syracuse player to hit for the cycle this season, but the Syracuse Mets lost to the Charlotte Knights, 9-7, on Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark. Tejada's cycle comes less than a month after Travis Taijeron hit for the cycle for the Mets on May 31st at Pawtucket.

Syracuse (35-36) led, 7-4, entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but Charlotte scored the game's final five runs en route to the win. 
Charlotte (37-33) began its comeback by loading the bases in the seventh. A fielder's choice score one run, a sacrifice fly scored another run, and then a two-out, two-run double by Alcides Escobar gave Charlotte an 8-7 lead, completing the four-run inning.
The Knights added an insurance run in the eighth. With two outs and runners on first and second base, Daniel Palka singled to score Adam Engel from second base for a 9-7 edge.
The Mets started the scoring in the top of the first. With Grégor Blanco on first, Rubén Tejada hit a two-run home run to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

Charlotte answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Engel and John Jay each singled to put runners on the corners. Former Syracuse Chief Matt Skole then grounded into a force out at second, and Engel scored to make it a 2-1 ballgame. 
The Knights tied the game in the second. Seby Zavala led off the frame with a solo home run, knotting the game, 2-2.

Tejada started the Mets third inning with a triple, completing the second leg of his cycle. He scored two batters later on a Dilson Herrera single to right for a 3-2 lead.

The lead was short lived as Skole hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the third to tie the game again, 3-3.

The Mets continued their scoring in the fifth. Tejada doubled to lead off the inning, moving within a single of the cycle. Rivera then hit his eighth home run of the season, making the score 5-3. Herrera followed a batter later with his sixteenth home run of the year, his fourth consecutive game with a home run, to push the lead to three, 6-3. 

Danny Mendick got the Knights a run closer in the bottom of the inning with his ninth long ball of the year, out to left-center field to trim the Syracuse lead to 6-4.

The Mets responded in the sixth. Aaron Altherr hit the Mets fourth home run of the game, extending the Syracuse lead back to three, 7-4. Two batters later, Tejada singled to complete his cycle.
Syracuse and Charlotte conclude their three-game series on Thursday night. LHP Anthony Kay will start for the Mets opposite RHP Donny Roach for the Knights. First pitch is scheduled for 7:04 p.m.