Game Recap: Unforced Errors Doom The Syracuse Mets In 8-1 Loss

Mike Montgomery, Syracuse Mets, Stock Photo by Herm Card - Herm4444@gmail.com

 Syracuse, NY  – The Syracuse Mets continued their tough stretch of play against the Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A affiliate, Toronto Blue Jays) on Saturday night, falling 8-1 in the penultimate game of the six-game series. The Mets have now lost four out of the first five games in the series and eight out of their last 11 games overall.  (Box Score)

Buffalo (58-51) got right to work on Saturday night, scoring twice in the top of the first. Otto Lopez began the game with a single, promptly advancing up to second on a wild pitch. After a Spencer Horwitz strikeout, Vinny Capra slapped a single into left that scored Lopez and made it 1-0 in favor of the Bisons. They weren't done scoring in the inning. Consecutive walks to Zack Collins and Cullen Large loaded up the bags with one out, followed by Nathan Lukes being hit by a pitch to make it 2-0 and complete the inning's scoring.   

After that, the game settled into a pitcher's duel, as neither team would score again until the seventh inning. While both teams were held scoreless, it wasn't for lack of chances. Buffalo left seven runners on base in the first six innings, while Syracuse (48-62) left six on base in the first six innings, including two runners on base in the third and fifth innings. 

In the seventh inning, a tightly-contested ballgame opened up in favor of the road team. Buffalo scored four times in the top of the seventh inning to really put Syracuse behind the eight ball, highlighted by a two-out, three-run home run from Lukes that turned a 3-0 game into 6-0 just like that. It was just the second extra-base hit of the game for the Bisons out of seven total hits up until that point.  

Syracuse did get a run back in the bottom of the seventh when Deven Marrero hit a solo home run with one out in the inning. However, the Mets would leave two more runners on base in the inning, putting a capper on consecutive frustrating days at the plate. Syracuse has scored just two combined runs in the past two games, leaving 17 runners on base in the process. The Mets left eight runners on base total in Saturday night's game. Syracuse has not lacked for hits the past two hits, rapping out 15 combined hits between Friday and Saturday.   

Buffalo put a finishing touch on their 8-1 win with a two-run single from Zack Collins with two outs in the top of the eighth. Five of the eight runs for the Bisons on Saturday night came with two outs. Syracuse also committed another error in the eighth inning that extended the frame for Buffalo. The Mets tied a season-high with five errors in Saturday night's game.   

Mike Montgomery (L,1-9) started the game for Syracuse - 3 innings, 2 runs - both earned, 3 hits, 3 walks, 1 K;  

Syracuse is home all week for a six-game series against the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Buffalo Bisons. Sunday afternoon's game is slated to start at 1:05 p.m. David Peterson is scheduled to start the game for the Mets.