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Jacob deGrom Wows Sellout Crowd as Syracuse Takes Down Jacksonville, 6-4, on Thursday Night

July 14, 2022 - International League (IL)
Syracuse Mets News Release


Jacob deGrom pitching for the Syracuse Mets
Jacob deGrom pitching for the Syracuse Mets
(Syracuse Mets, Credit: Herm Card)

Syracuse, NY - New York Mets starting pitcher and two-time Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom made a Major League rehab start in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,815 fans at NBT Bank Stadium. The fireballing right-hander started the night strong and the Mets backed him up with ample run support, taking an early lead and never looking back on their way to a 6-4 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on a warm and sunny evening in Syracuse.

Jacob deGrom was making his third overall rehab start and his first with Triple-A Syracuse of the season as his prior two rehab assignments had been with Single-A St. Lucie. The star starter wowed the huge crowd right away, working a 1-2-3 top of the first in quick fashion. DeGrom struck out the leadoff batter, Brian Miller, on three pitches to start the game.

In the second inning, deGrom had to work around a little trouble. Jerar Encarnacion started the frame with a double followed by a walk to JJ Bleday that put runners on first and second base with nobody out. Then, the All-Star got to work as deGrom induced a double play ball by Peyton Burdick and then struck out Charles Leblanc to strand a runner at third and escape the inning unscathed.

While deGrom was mowing down Jacksonville batters, his teammates were giving him run support. Syracuse (39-48) scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by an RBI groundout from Tzu-Wei Lin, RBI singles from Terrance Gore and Nick Plummer, plus a sacrifice fly from Francisco Álvarez to give Syracuse a 4-0 lead. All four of the Mets hits in the second inning were singles.

In the third, the Jacksonville (46-41) found a way to plate a run against deGrom. After Luis Aviles Jr. struck out to start the inning, Santiago Chavez lined a sharp single into center field. As the ball landed and rolled in center field, Terrance Gore misplayed the ball and allowed Chavez to advance to second in the process. A Brian Miller flyout moved Chavez to third. Then, a wild pitch by deGrom plated Chavez for the first run of the night for Jacksonville. The error earlier in the inning made the run unearned.

In the fourth, deGrom finished his rehab start strong, working another 1-2-3 inning and completing four frames of work without allowing an earned run. As deGrom exited the game, the sellout crowd in Syracuse saluted him with a standing ovation. All four of deGrom's strikeouts on Thursday night were swinging.

It remained a 4-1 game into the bottom of the seventh inning when Syracuse plated two more runs without recording a hit. With the bases loaded and one out, Mark Vientos worked a walk to bring home a run and give the Mets a 5-1 advantage. Khalil Lee followed with a sacrifice fly out that brought home Syracuse's final run of the game for a five-run lead, 6-1.

Overall on Thursday night, Khalil Lee smacked two singles in a 2-for-3 night at the plate, his second consecutive multi-hit game. Francisco Álvarez walked three times and drove in a run via a sacrifice fly. Gosuke Katoh, the reigning International League Player of the Week, had a two-hit night of his own and scored a run. Finally, Terrance Gore reached base three times with two singles and a walk, scored twice, and drove in a run.

Syracuse led, 6-1, entering the top of the ninth inning as Mets reliever Michel Otanez came into the game looking to lock up another Syracuse win. However, it wouldn't come easy. Jacksonville scored three times amidst the first three batters of the ninth inning, as Jerar Encarnacion homered, JJ Bleday singled, and then Peyton Burdick homered to suddenly make it just a 6-4 game. From there, Otanez buckled down and finished the job, retiring the next three batters in order with two strikeouts and a groundout to finish off the victory on a special night in Syracuse.

Syracuse continues its series against the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, on Friday night. Left-hander Nate Fisher is slated to start for the Mets, opposed by right-hander Max Meyer for the Jumbo Shrimp. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

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Jacob deGrom pitching for the Syracuse Mets
Jacob deGrom pitching for the Syracuse Mets
(Herm Card)		   



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