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IL Syracuse Mets

Syracuse Splits Series-Opening Doubleheader at Toledo on Wednesday Afternoon

April 26, 2023 - International League (IL)
Syracuse Mets News Release


Toledo, OH - The Syracuse Mets split Wednesday's doubleheader with the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A Detroit Tigers) dropping the first game, 4-1, in seven innings before winning the second game, 2-1 in nine innings.

Game one of the doubleheader got off to an excellent start for Toledo (15-7), which plated three runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning. Each of their first five batters had hits, highlighted by a two-run double from Ryan Kreidler and another RBI double from Andre Lipcius for the 3-0 advantage.

After that, Syracuse's (12-11) starter, Alex Valverde, was able to settle into a better outing for the Mets. Valverde threw three and two-thirds innings in his outing, allowing four runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts. In his final 13 batters, Valverde allowed just three hits and one run. The last run Toledo scored was via a two-out, two-strike RBI single from Parker Meadows.

However, despite the pitching settling down for Syracuse after a rocky beginning, the offense could not hold up its end of the bargain in game one of the doubleheader. The Mets scored just once in the game, a run in a third inning that could have been more eventful. Syracuse had the bases loaded with one out and the three and four hitters in the order coming up. Mark Vientos, the three hitter, did loft a fly ball deep enough into right field to score a run and make it a 3-1 game at the time. The four hitter, DJ Stewart, then grounded out to end the threat. The Mets put runners on base in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings yet did not bring anyone else home in the eventual 4-1 defeat.

Game two was dominated in the early goings by the Syracuse pitching staff, which held the Toledo hitters in check until the last moments of the game. It all started with Zach Muckenhirn who was remarkably solid in his spot start. The normal left-handed reliever worked three scoreless frames in his start, his first start since he was pitching in Single-A during the 2017 season. Muckenhirn has now allowed just one earned run in 11 and two-third innings of work across six appearances this season.

From there, the bullpen held down the fort for the Mets. John Curtiss tossed a pair of scoreless innings, striking out four of the six total batters he faced. Dennis Santana then came on and threw an excellent sixth inning, striking out each of the three batters that came to the plate in the inning.

While the Syracuse pitching was brilliant early on, the offense did just enough early to put the Mets in position to win. The only run in the first six and a half innings in game two of the doubleheader came right in the top of the first inning. Danny Mendick walked to begin the ballgame, advancing to second on Ronny Mauricio's sharp single into right field. The third batter, Mark Vientos, grounded into a fielder's choice that put Mendick on third and Vientos on first with one out. Then, the next batter, Jonathan Araúz, bounced into another fielder's choice that scored Mendick and gave the Mets the 1-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the seventh inning (the last scheduled inning in a doubleheader), the game began to unravel for Syracuse. Toledo managed to tie the game up by scratching across the one run they needed to keep the game going. First, Andre Lipcius singled to start the inning. The next batter, Jonathan Davis, tried to advance Lipcius to second base via a sacrifice bunt, but he bunted it right back to Santana, who fired to second base to get the lead runner. Santana struck out Jermaine Palacios to put the Mets one out away from a win, but during that time, Davis stole second and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Davis was now ninety feet away from tying the game and would do just that, racing home on a wild pitch to tie the game at one and send it into extra innings.

The game remained tied into the top of the ninth (the second extra inning), where Syracuse squeezed across one run to regain the lead at 2-1. Mauricio began the inning as the free runner at second base, followed by a Vientos walk that put runners on first and second with one out. The next batter, Araúz, chopped a soft single into center field that plated Mauricio and made it a 2-1 game. Araúz drove in both runs in the second half of the doubleheader. That Araúz single in the ninth was the only hit for either team with runners in scoring position in the second game. Syracuse was 1-for-10 while Toledo was 0-for-10 with runners at second and/or third base.

After that, T.J. McFarland ensured the game wouldn't go on any longer, tossing a scoreless ninth to hand Syracuse a 2-1 win that snapped its four-game losing streak. Overall, the Mets bullpen had an excellent afternoon in game two of the doubleheader. Curtiss, Santana, and McFarland combined to work six innings while allowing just one hit and one run, striking out 12 total batters in the process.

Syracuse continues its six-game series on the road in Toledo with the third game on Thursday. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

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