Syracuse Mets Game Recap: Syracuse falls to Charlotte, 12-6, on Saturday night

José Azocar had two hits and an RBI for Syracuse on Saturday night (Herm Card).

Box Score: Luisangel Acuña: CF 1 for 5; 1 RBI; José Azocar: RF 2 for 5; 1 run; 1 RBI; Jared Young: DH 2 for 4; Luis De Los Santos: LF 0 for 1; Pablo Reyes: SS 3 for 5; 1 run; 2 RBIs; 1 HR; 1 double; Joey Meneses: 1B 1 for 5; 1 double; Luke Ritter: LF-P 0 for 4; 1 K; David Villar: 3B 1 for 4; 1 run; 1 double; Yonny Hernández: 2B 2 for 4; 2 runs; 1 RBI; 1 K; 1 double; Matt O'Neill: C 1 for 4; 1 run; 1 K; Austin Warren: (L, 5-2) 1.2 innings; 1 run; 1 ER; 3 hits; 2 Ks; Alex Carrillo:  0.1 inning; 2 runs; 2 ERs; 2 hits; 1 walk; Douglas Orellana:  2 innings; 1 run; 1 ER; 3 hits; 1 walk; 3 Ks; Huascar Brazobán:  1 inning; 7 runs; 7 ERs; 6 hits; 1 K; Chris Devenski:  1 inning; no runs; 2 hits; 1 K; Richard Lovelady:  1 inning; no runs; 1 hit; 1 walk; 2 Ks; Dylan Ross:  1 inning; no runs; 1 walk; 2 Ks; Luke Ritter:  1 inning; 1 run; 1 ER; 2 hits; 1 walk;

By Michael Tricarico, Syracuse Mets Broadcaster

Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse Mets were overpowered by the Charlotte Knights, 12-6, on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Despite the loss, Syracuse is still in first place in the International League second half standings.

For the second time in as many games, Charlotte (53-59, 17-20) got on the scoreboard first. In the top of the second inning, Dominic Fletcher doubled. Dru Baker drove Fletcher in with an RBI double to put the Knights ahead, 1-0. 

In the third, Charlotte extended its lead. RBI doubles by Tim Elko and Fletcher, along with an RBI single by Korey Lee, gave the Knights a 4-0 lead. 

The floodgates opened in the top of the fifth inning when Charlotte scored seven runs off of six hits to take an 11-0 lead. Headlining the big inning was a two-run homer by Will Robertson and a three-run homer by Jacob Gonzalez. 

Syracuse (60-53, 29-9) scored its first runs in the bottom of the fifth. Yonny Hernandez led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a Luisangel Acuña groundout to make it 11-1. Next, Jose Azocar and Jared Young hit singles to put two runners on for Pablo Reyes, who smacked an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 11-2. 

In the seventh, the Mets hitters continued to wake up. Matt O'Neill singled and moved to second on a wild pitch, then scored on an RBI single by Azocar, making it 11-3. 

Syracuse added a couple more runs in the eighth when David Villar doubled and scored on an RBI knock by Yonny Hernandez, tightening the gap to 11-4. Soon after, Matt O'Neill hit a ball in front of the pitcher's mound that led to a throwing error that scored Hernandez and made it 11-5. 

After the Knights scored a run in the top of the ninth to take a 12-5 lead, the Mets scored one more run on a solo homer by Pablo Reyes in the bottom of the ninth, sending it to 12-6, a lead that Charlotte wouldn't relinquish.

Syracuse continues its six-game series with Charlotte on Sunday afternoon with game six. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.