Syracuse, New York (June 10, 2023) – In an all-around solid performance, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (32-28) took both ends of a twin bill from the Syracuse Mets (23-38), winning 5-1 and 8-5, to claim the series on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Game One
Syracuse got on the board first, plating a run in the second on a Danny Mendick two-out RBI single. The IronPigs responded immediately in the top of the third as Jake Cave blasted a two-run homer, his ninth of the season, to claim the lead.
In the seventh, Scott Kingery and Esteban Quiroz hit back-to-back solo homers to kick off the inning before Darick Hall added even more insurance with an RBI double later in the inning to make it 5-1.
Cristopher Sanchez (3-2) spun six wonderful frames to pick up the win for the IronPigs, allowing just a run on seven hits and a walk, striking out four.
Jose Butto (1-2) suffered the loss for the Mets, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks, striking out three over five innings.
Game Two
The IronPigs got the bats rolling right away as Dustin Peterson smoked a solo homer in the first, his eight of the year. Simon Muzziotti laced an RBI single later in the frame before a two-run error made it a four-run inning.
DJ Stewart got two back in the last of the first for the Mets on a two-run homer before Syracuse rallied all the way back in the second. Michael Perez brought in a run with an RBI groundout before Danny Mendick legged out a single to drive in a run to tie the game. Ronny Mauricio then drove in Mendick with a base hit to put Syracuse ahead 5-4.
The IronPigs went on to score four unanswered to claim the ballgame. Cave tied the score at 5-5 in the fourth with a sacrifice fly before Jim Haley’s two-run double put the IronPigs ahead for good. Kingery clubbed his second solo homer of the doubleheader, his seventh of the season, in the sixth to stretch the lead to 8-5.
IronPigs pitching did not allow a hit after the second inning, limiting Syracuse to just three walks the rest of the game.
Jesus Cruz (1-1) worked two no-hit innings out of the bullpen for the win for the IronPigs, allowing just a walk and striking out one. Andrew Bellatti (S, 1) picked up the save with a perfect seventh.
Dennis Santana (1-1) was hung with the loss for the Mets, allowing three runs in two innings on three hits and a walk, striking out four.
The IronPigs and Mets wrap their series on Sunday, June 11 with first pitch at 1:05 p.m. at NBT Bank Stadium.
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