Syracuse drops series finale to Buffalo with 9-7 loss in 11 innings

 

Syracuse, NY - The 2,395 fans at NBT Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon saw another thrilling game, but unfortunately another Mets extra-inning loss, as the Buffalo Bisons beat the Syracuse Mets, 9-7, in 11 innings.

Buffalo (27-19) scored two runs in the top of the first inning for the second straight game. Brevic Velera hit a leadoff single. After Kevin Smith flew out, Christian Colón lifted a two-run home run over the left-center-field wall to give the Bisons an early 2-0 lead.  

Syracuse (12-35) got on the board in the bottom of the second. Orlando Calixte drew a one-out walk, and Cheslor Cuthbert followed with a single. Next, Wilfredo Tovar sent a single into left field to score Calixte and make it 2-1 with Buffalo still in front. 

In the fourth, Tyler White led off the inning with a solo home run to increase the Bisons lead to 3-1. After Cullen Large struck out, Dilson Herrera also hit a solo home run to make it 4-1 Buffalo.  

Syracuse starting pitcher Akeem Bostick’s day ended after the fourth inning. The right-hander went four innings, allowing four runs on five hits, while walking one and striking out three. 

The Bisons added another run in the fifth. Valera, Smith, and Colón all drew walks to load the bases with no outs. Marcel Rentería then came out of the bullpen to replace A.J. Schugel and struck out White and Cullen Large. However, Rentería couldn’t get out of the jam unscathed, walking Herrera to bring home Valera as Buffalo went up 5-1.  

The Mets pulled closer in the bottom of the sixth. Cuthbert led off the frame with a walk, and then Tovar came through yet again with his second home run of the series to cut the deficit in half, 5-3. 

Syracuse added to the home run total in the eighth when David Rodriguez launched his second long ball of the season over the left-center-field wall to bring Syracuse within one, 5-4.

 Much like Friday night, Brandon Drury came to the plate to face Bisons reliever Hobie Harris with the Mets trailing by one. On Friday, Drury hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the eight. On Sunday, Drury came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with Syracuse down by one. Sure enough, Drury got the best of Harris once again, leading off the frame with a game-tying home run to knot the game up, 5-5. 

For the second straight day, fans saw extra innings at NBT Bank Stadium. White started out as the runner at second in the top of the tenth and advanced to third after a Large leadoff single. After Herrera struck out swinging, Logan Warmoth scored White on a sacrifice fly to center field to put Buffalo back in front, 6-5. 

Syracuse responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the tenth. Tovar started as the runner on second. Tovar tagged up and moved to third base on a Rodriguez fly out to right field. He later scored on a Mason Williams sacrifice fly to make it 6-6. 

To lead off the 11th, Kevin Vicuna laid down a bunt down the third base line. Mets pitcher Tom Windle fielded the ball and made an errant throw to third that got by the third baseman Cuthbert while attempting to retire the runner Vigil, and Vigil came home to score to give Buffalo the lead right back, 7-6. Velera then followed with an RBI double to make it 8-6. Later in the inning, a wild pitch scored Valera to give Buffalo a three-run lead, 9-6.  

Drury led off the bottom of the 11th and delivered with an RBI double to score Lee and make it 9-7 with the Bisons still in front. However, Buffalo reliever Jackson McClelland retired the next three batters, and the Bisons won, 9-6. Buffalo took five games from Syracuse in the six-game series, with all games being decided by three runs or less.

The Mets will enjoy the league-wide day off on Monday before returning to NBT Bank Stadium on Tuesday to begin a six-game series against the Rochester Red Wings. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.