Syracuse Mets Game Recap: S-Mets Drop Both Games Friday Night in Jacksonville

Morabito Run In Dugout, photo courtesy of the Syracuse Mets

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Jacksonville, FL – The Syracuse Mets dropped both games of Friday’s action against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at VyStar Ballpark. Jacksonville completed Thursday night’s suspended game with a 4-2 victory before defeating Syracuse, 7-2, in the seven-inning nightcap.

Thursday’s game resumed at 5:05 p.m. Friday in the top of the fifth inning with Jacksonville (17-25, 59-57) leading, 3-2, Zack Short at third base, one out and Vidal Bruján at the plate.

Before the suspension, Nick Morabito opened the game with his 12th home run of the season, giving Syracuse (19-23, 57-60) a 1-0 lead. Jacksonville answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Brendan Jones scored when Deyvison De Los Santos reached on an error, and Johnny Olmstead later drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Jonathon Long and put the Jumbo Shrimp in front, 2-1.

Syracuse tied the game in the third. Jose Ramos reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball before scoring on Morabito’s groundout.

Jacksonville regained the lead in the fourth. Jones hit a ground-rule double and stole third before scoring on a wild pitch from Brian Metoyer, making it 3-2.

After play resumed Friday, Bruján walked with Short still at third, but he was caught stealing before MJ Melendez flew out to end the inning.

Dan Hammer took over on the mound for Syracuse and retired all six batters he faced over two perfect innings. Jacksonville added an insurance run in the seventh against Tobias Myers. Kemp Alderman walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before Olmstead singled him home for a 4-2 lead.

Syracuse brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth when Hayden Senger singled and Ramos walked with two outs, but Ronny Mauricio grounded out to end the game.

Jonathan Santucci started for Syracuse and recorded two outs in the first inning, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks while striking out two. Ofreidy Gómez followed with two and one-third scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out two. Metoyer allowed one run on one hit and one walk in the fourth while striking out two. Hammer worked two perfect innings with two strikeouts, and Myers allowed one run on one hit and one walk over two innings while striking out two.

Jacksonville jumped in front with three runs in the second inning of the seven-inning nightcap. De Los Santos and Olmstead singled before Jared Serna launched a three-run home run to left field, giving the Jumbo Shrimp a 3-0 lead.

The Jumbo Shrimp added two more runs in the fifth. Garret Forrester was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a stolen base and throwing error. After Jones walked, Long lined an RBI single to right to score Forrester. A wild pitch and throwing error later in the inning allowed Jones to score, extending the lead to 5-0.

Jacksonville added two more in the sixth. Olmstead doubled and scored on Serna’s sacrifice fly before Forrester doubled and came home on Jones’ RBI single, pushing the advantage to 7-0.

Syracuse mounted a rally in the seventh. Melendez, Eric Wagaman and Ryan Clifford walked to load the bases before Shawn Ross was hit by a pitch, forcing home Melendez. Morabito followed with a sacrifice fly to score Wagaman, but the Mets could get no closer.

Zach Peek started the second game and allowed three runs on three hits over one and two-thirds innings while striking out one. Matt Seelinger followed with one and one-third scoreless innings, walking three and striking out two. Dylan Ross tossed a perfect fourth inning with two strikeouts. Joe Jacques was charged with two runs on one hit and one walk while recording one out in the fifth, and Ben Simon finished the game with one and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one.

The Mets and Jumbo Shrimp continue their series Saturday night at VyStar Ballpark. Right-hander Xzavion Curry is scheduled to start for Syracuse against right-hander Karson Milbrandt for Jacksonville. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.