John From Albany - Brooklyn wins 5-4, lead wild card by one, one back of first. Syracuse wins 7-3, Lowrie 1 for 4.

Ninth inning comeback helps Brooklyn to 5-4 win (box).

All year long Garrison Bryant has been Brooklyn’s best pitcher.   Coming into Sunday’s game, Garrison had pitched to a 5-1 record with a 2.18 ERA and in his previous 9 starts had never allowed more than one run.

Sunday, after Brooklyn scored in the top of the first, Garrison gave up two runs in the bottom.  When Staten Island added a run in the third and a run in the fourth, it was 4-1 Staten Island.  Overall, Garrison Byrant’s line was 5 innings, 7 hits, 1 walk, 4 runs, 3 earned.

Then Brooklyn started to chip away.  They scored a run in the top of the fifth, and a run in the top of the sixth helped both times by Jake Ortega hits as he had a solid 2 for 4 game.

This led to the ninth inning.  Down 4-3, Brooklyn worked their magic.  Recent call-up Kenedy Corona reached on a walk, after advancing to second on a wild pitch, Antoine Duplantis singled with Brooklyn Manager Edgardo Alfonzo holding Corona at third.

That brought up Jake Mangum, who has been one of Brooklyn’s best clutch hitters all year.  Jake singled driving in Corona to tie the game.  In 39 at bats with runners in scoring position, Jake now has 14 hits for a .359 average in those situations.

A wild pitch made Antoine Duplantis break for third, the catcher’s throw was wild and Duplantis came home with the go ahead and eventual winning run.

Nelson Leon pitched a one, two, three ninth with two K’s to seal the game.

While Brooklyn won, Hudson Valley beat Aberdeen 3-2 in ten innings.  This puts Brooklyn a game up on Aberdeen for the wild card and a game back of Hudson Valley for the Division lead.  Note, since Aberdeen won the season series, Brooklyn needs to win Monday to guarantee a trip to the post season.  Brooklyn could even win the division with a win and a Hudson Valley loss as Brooklyn won that season series.    

The Yankees-Cyclones series heads back to Brooklyn for the final regular season game.  Robinson Cano will continue his rehab in that Monday game.

Syracuse beats Rochester 7-3 (box). 

There was excitement before the game even started as Brandon Nimmo who had been rehabbing was called back the big leagues along with Syracuse players Sam Haggerty, Tyler Bashlor and Daniel Zamora.  Dilson Herrera opted out of his contract to become a free agent, Donnie Hart was DFA’d, Ruben Tejada cleared waivers to rejoin the team and two pitchers were called up from Binghamton, Adonis Uceta and Blake Taylor. 

For more on this and to see the video of Syracuse Manager Tony Defrancesco telling Sam Haggerty the news of his call-up, check out this Syracuse.com article from Lindsey Kramer.

With the Yankee’s Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders having already beaten Buffalo 15-12, Syracuse knew they needed to win, or their playoff hopes were over. 

Drew Gagnon came up big with six scoreless innings and two doubles by Jason Krizan helped the S-Mets build a 3-0 lead.

In the 7^th, Adonis Uceta recorded just one out as he gave up 3 hits and a walk.  Overall, Uceta was charged with three runs.  Matt Blackham allowed one of Uceta’s runs to score before recording the final two outs.

In the next inning Syracuse came right back with a 4 run eighth. After former Met Ryan O’Rourke walked Arismendy Alcantara and Jed Lowrie, Danny Espinosa doubled off Rochester Pitcher Jeremy Bleich and Syracuse was on their way.   

It all comes down to the games today.  Syracuse needs to win with a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre loss to end the season in a tie and force a one game playoff.  Harol Gonzalez gets the start for Syracuse.