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Carlos Cortes Crushes Two Home Runs, But Syracuse Falls to Lehigh Valley, 9-8, on Tuesday Night

August 29, 2023 - International League (IL)
Syracuse Mets News Release


Syracuse Mets' Carlos Cortes at bat
Syracuse Mets' Carlos Cortes at bat
(Syracuse Mets, Credit: Herm Card)

Allentown, PA - The Syracuse Mets did not outlast the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs rallied back from two different four-run deficits, eventually defeating the Mets by a 9-8 final. Lehigh Valley now leads the season series 12 games to six after grabbing the first game of this week's six-game series.

Syracuse (52-72, 19-31) got off to a dream start in the ballgame, plating four runs in the top of the first to race out to a 4-0 lead. First, the Mets loaded up the bases via a trio of singles from Wyatt Young, Ronny Mauricio, and Daniel Palka. Then, Carlos Cortes cleared the bases when he crushed a grand slam over the center-field fence to make it a 4-0 game in a flash. It was the second grand slam of the season for Cortes, who also smacked a grand slam in the last road trip for the Mets at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier this month.

However, that lead would not last long, as Lehigh Valley (66-59, 30-22) rallied right back with two runs in the second and two runs in the third to knot the game up at four after three innings. In the second, the IronPigs scored on an RBI groundout from Esteban Quiroz and an RBI single from Cal Stevenson.

In the third, the IronPigs knotted the ballgame up on a two-run single from Simon Muzziotti. The 24-year-old has had a brilliant campaign. Coming into the week, Muzziotti was batting .318 this season in 106 games at the Triple-A level. Muzziotti also was batting .345 against the Mets this season entering this week's series.

That would close the starting pitching line for Justin Jarvis, who ended his three-inning outing with four runs allowed (all earned) on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. The lanky right-hander threw 76 pitches, 42 of which were strikes. The three-inning start tied his shortest outing among the five starts he has made since being acquired by the New York Mets from the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline.

Syracuse surged right back in front in the top of the fifth as Cortes continued his incredible night. With Palka on base with one out, Cortes launched a laser-beam, line-drive shot that cleared the high wall in right-centerfield for a go-ahead, two-run shot that made it a 6-4 game. Cortes finished Tuesday night's game with two home runs and six runs driven in.

In the top of the sixth, the Mets added to the lead with yet another home run. This time, Ronny Mauricio slugged a two-run shot over the left-field fence that propelled Syracuse up to an 8-4 lead. Mauricio is on a tear right now at the plate. The 22-year-old went 3-for-5 in Tuesday night's game, Mauricio's 40th multi-hit game of the season. Mauricio also went 10-for-23 against Buffalo last week with two doubles, a triple, and two more homers.

In the bottom of the sixth, the IronPigs nearly came all the way back yet again, scoring three times on two hits while sending eight men to the plate in the inning. First, Lehigh Valley loaded up the bags via an Esteban Quiroz walk, a Cal Stevenson single, and a Jim Haley walk. That was followed by an RBI fielder's choice from Kody Clemens that made it an 8-5 game and put runners on first and third with one out. After a Weston Wilson walk and a Darick Hall strikeout = the bases loaded were loaded again with two outs. Cristian Pache then singled sharply into left field to plate two runners and make it an 8-7 game. Pache, a rehabbing Big Leaguer, had two hits and two runs scored in Tuesday night's game. Luckily for Syracuse, Muzziotti popped out to end the inning and ensure the Mets would retain their 8-7 lead into the late innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, that 8-7 lead for the Syracuse Mets withered away in the muggy late-August air as the IronPigs scored twice to take a 9-8 lead. The Pigs sent seven more men to the plate in the frame, loading up the bases with one out on singles for Clemens and Wilson plus a Pache walk. Then, Muzziotti singled into center field to tie the game, 8-8. Rafael Marchan gave Lehigh Valley the lead on a sacrifice fly onto the right-field warning track, scoring Wilson from third for a 9-8 IronPigs lead.

It was a well-balanced attack for the Pigs all evening long. By the end of the game, eight of Lehigh Valley's nine batters reached base at least once. The only man not to reach base, Marchan, drove in the fateful run in the bottom of the eighth. Six different Lehigh Valley batters also reached base multiple times in the game.

In the top of the ninth, the Mets attempted to mount a rally when Cortes reached base yet again via a one-out walk. Cortes reached base four times in Tuesday night's game with the two walks and two home runs. However, a Brandon McIlwain groundout and a Michael Perez flyout ended the game right there and handed Lehigh Valley a 9-8 win. It was yet another tight game between Lehigh Valley and Syracuse on Tuesday night. 12 of the 18 games between the two clubs this season have been decided by three runs or less.

Syracuse continues its six-game series this week against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Wednesday with the second game of the series. Left-hander Joey Lucchesi is scheduled to start on the mound for the Mets against right-hander Drew Hutchison for the IronPigs.

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Syracuse Mets' Carlos Cortes at bat
Syracuse Mets' Carlos Cortes at bat
(Herm Card)		   



International League Stories from August 29, 2023


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