Syracuse Sweeps Doubleheader

Syracuse, NY (April 6, 2019) - The Syracuse Mets came from behind in both games of their doubleheader against the Pawtucket Red Sox on Saturday afternoon, winning 6-3 in game one and then 4-3 in walk-off fashion in game two. 

In the first game, Pawtucket (1-2) began the scoring in the top of the second inning. After his three-run double in the tenth inning gave the PawSox a win Thursday, Tony Renda continued his big series with a two-run home run off Corey Oswalt, with Sam Travis on second having doubled, for a 2-0 lead.

Syracuse (2-1) quickly answered in the bottom of the second against Chandler Shepherd. Travis Taijeron led off with a double, and Tim Tebow followed with his first Triple-A RBI, a single to center field to plate the Mets first run. Adeiny Hechavarría then singled to put two runners on. After Tebow moved to third on a double play, Dilson Herrera walked, and Colton Plaia doubled home both runners to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. 

Tebow brought home another Syracuse run in the third. Danny Espinosa reached on an error on Renda at second base. Three batters later, Tebow doubled to the left-center field gap, plating Espinosa from second for a 4-2 lead.

Syracuse added to the lead in the fourth on Dilson Herrera's solo home run, the first in Syracuse Mets history. 

Pawtucket got a run back in the sixth inning. Mike Miller doubled to lead off the inning, and Rusney Castillo singled to put runners on the corners. Gorkys Hernandez then hit a ground ball to third, and Miller scored on the force out at second to cut the Mets lead to 5-3.

The Mets answered the sixth-inning run in the home half of the inning. Herrera continued his big day with a single to right to lead off, and was sacrificed to second by Plaia. Two batters later, Espinosa lined an RBI single to left to give Syracuse its final margin of 6-3.

In the second game, the PawSox again started the scoring, this time in the first off Casey Coleman. Rusney Castillo reached on an error on Herrera at second, and Hernandez homered over the right-field fence to give the Sox a 2-0 lead.

The Mets would quickly answer in the bottom of the frame off Erasmo Ramirez. Grégor Blanco led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to right field to cut the deficit in half.

The PawSox got back on the board in the fifth against Corey Taylor. Juan Centeno and Cole Sturgeon led off the inning with singles. After a groundout moved the runners up, the Mets intentionally walked Castillo to load the bases. Hernandez followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Centeno and push the lead to 3-1.  

Syracuse pulled within a run once again in the sixth. With one out, David Thompson walked. Blanco followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Thompson moved to third and Blanco to second on an Espinosa ground out to second base. After Rajai Davis was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Rymer Liriano reached base on a throwing error by Pawtucket third baseman Michael Chavis, scoring Thompson to cut the Pawtucket advantage to one, 3-2.

The Mets tied the game in the seventh. Hechavarría and Herrera both singled to begin the frame, placing runners at first and second. René Rivera then laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached base because of a throwing error by pitcher Jenrry Mejia that loaded the bases. Thompson followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hechavarría to knot the game, 3-3, forcing extra innings.

Syracuse won the game in the eighth. Blanco began the inning at second base. Espinosa was intentionally walked and then Liriano worked a walk to load the bases. After Tebow grounded into a force out where Blanco was out at home, Hechavarría laced a single to center field, scoring Espinosa for a 4-3 Mets walk-off win.

The Mets and the Red Sox conclude their four-game series on Sunday afternoon. RHP Drew Gagnon will be on the mound for Syracuse while Josh Smith will throw for Pawtucket. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at NBT Bank Stadium.