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Syracuse Victim to Another Walk-Off Loss in 9-7 Defeat Against Norfolk on Tuesday

May 16, 2023 - International League (IL)
Syracuse Mets News Release


Norfolk, VA - The Syracuse Mets had a 6-0 lead going to the bottom of the fourth and held a 7-5 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth, but a four-run ninth for the Norfolk Tides, including a walk-off three-run home run led Norfolk to a 9-7 win over Syracuse on Tuesday night at Harbor Park. This is Syracuse's fifth loss in a row and the fifth time in the last seven games that the Mets have lost on a walk-off hit.

Syracuse (16-24) had a two-run 7-5 lead as the game moved to the bottom of the ninth inning when Norfolk (29-10) delivered its final blow. The frame started with Connor Norby reaching on an error. Josh Lester followed with a single that put runners at first and third base. Then, Jordan Westburg doubled, scoring Norby and moving Lester to third, cutting the Syracuse lead to one, 7-6. Lewin Díaz struck out to give the Mets a sigh that would not last. Daz Cameron followed with the walk-off three-run home run that gave the Tides a 9-7 victory.

The game started with a pair of scoreless innings before the Mets jumped on top in the top of the third. Jaylin Davis walked, and a pitch hit Tim Locastro to put a pair of runners on base. Two batters later, Danny Mendick singled to load the bases. Ronny Mauricio followed with a two-run single into left field, scoring Davis and Locastro for a 2-0 Syracuse lead. Norfolk retired the next two batters though, stranding two Syracuse runners on base.

Syracuse extended its lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Jonathan Araúz singled. Davis followed with a single, and a misplay in center field by Norfolk allowed Araúz to score all the way from first to make it a 3-0 ballgame. Locastro then singled to score Davis and extend the Syracuse lead to 4-0. A Lorenzo Cedrola single, followed by a pitch hitting Mendick loaded the bases once again for Mauricio. The 22-year-old came through a second time with a single that scored Davis to push the Mets advantage to 5-0. Mark Vientos followed with a single that brought home Cedrola and gave Syracuse its largest lead of the game, 6-0. Unfortunately, Norfolk again retired the next two Syracuse hitters, and the Mets left the bases loaded.

The Tides trimmed the Mets lead in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Lester skyed a ball that was pushed by the wind over the left-field fence for a home run that made it a 6-1 game.

Norfolk came back more in the sixth. Norby singled, Lester walked, and Westburg doubled to score Norby and slim Syracuse's lead to four, 6-2. Then Díaz grounded out, but Lester scored on the play to cut the deficit to three, 6-3.

Syracuse responded in the top of the seventh with one powerful swing of the bat. Vientos led off with a 411-foot home run to push the Mets lead back to four, 7-3. The home run was Vientos's team-leading 13th of the season.

The Tides responded in the bottom of the seventh though. Anthony Bemboom walked, a pitch hit Maverick Handley, and Colton Cowser singled to load the bases. Norby followed with a groundout into a fielder's choice that brought home Bemboom to make it a 7-4 ballgame. That was the only run Norfolk scored in the frame as Syracuse retired the next three batters, stranding the bases loaded.

Norfolk still continued to cut into the Syracuse lead in the eighth. Cameron led off with a double. Shayne Fontana lined out and Bemboom struck out, but Handley blooped a ball into right field that scored Cameron and pulled the Tides within two, 7-5, setting up the ninth inning where Norfolk complete the comeback.

Syracuse scored six runs on eight hits through the first four innings but only managed one run and two hits through the game's last five frames. Meanwhile, Norfolk scored just one run and had only three hits in the first four innings but scored eight runs and had nine hits in the final five innings, including eight runs and eight hits in the last four frames.

The Mets and Tides meet again on Wednesday with the third game of the six-game series. Right-hander Dylan Bundy is scheduled to start on the mound for the Mets against Tides right-hander Chris Vallimont. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m. at Harbor Park.

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