Syracuse 7 - Buffalo 3

Syracuse, NY (April 22, 2019) - The Syracuse Mets continued their hot homestand with their fourth straight win, beating the Buffalo Bisons, 7-3, on Monday night at NBT Bank Stadium. The Mets hit three home runs in the game, which is the most homers hit by Syracuse in a game this season.

PC - Ed Delany

Buffalo (4-10) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Bo Bichette walked and stole second base. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. then singled through the right side into right field to score Bichette for a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. powered a two-run home run over the center-field fence for a 3-0 lead. 

Syracuse (11-7) continued its theme for the entire season in this game: not allowing deficits to last very long. In the bottom of the third inning, Tim Tebow walked with two outs, and Gregor Blanco singled. Danny Espinosa then swung at a 3-0 pitch and drilled a three-run home run to right field to tie the game, 3-3.

The Mets posted another three-run inning in the sixth, again scoring all of their runs with two outs. Espinosa walked, and Carlos Gomez doubled to center field to give the Mets a 4-3 lead. Then on a 3-2 pitch, Travis Taijeron hit his sixth home run in his last ten games, a two-run, opposite-field shot to push the lead to 6-3. 

The Mets pitching staff turned in another strong performance. After the Bisons three-run, two-hit first inning, the Mets did not allowing another hit until the sixth. Héctor Santiago started the game for Syracuse and retired 15 of the last 18 batters he faced after allowing three runs in the first. Corey Taylor and Tyler Bashlor came out of the bullpen to combine for five strikeouts in five and a third scoreless innings. 

Taijeron had a final exclamation point on this game. In the eighth, Taijeron led off with his second home run of the game, his second two-home run game in eight days, extending the lead to 7-3.

Syracuse is now 9-2 at NBT Bank Stadium this year and has won 15 of its last 17 home games dating back to 2018. The Mets continue their series on the North side with the Bisons Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. RHP Drew Gagnon is scheduled to start for Syracuse opposite RHP Jacob Waguespack for Buffalo.