Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse Mets faltered late in Thursday night’s ballgame, dropping a 9-1 decision to the Columbus Clippers on a chilly evening at NBT Bank Stadium. The Clippers still trail the series two games to one after the Mets won on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.
Early on, Syracuse (12-10) received another strong start from Joey Lucchesi who navigated through some potential choppy waters to allow just two runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings, walking two and striking out three. Lucchesi’s greatest ability on Thursday night was the art of the escape, stranding nine runners on base in his six innings of work.
On the other side, Columbus (9-14) received a very strong start of their own from Adam Oller, who allowed just one run on two hits in six stellar innings. Although he walked five, he also struck out four and finished with a flourish. Oller did not allow a hit to the final 13 batters he faced. It was a bit of a homecoming for the right-hander, who pitched in Syracuse during the tail end of the 2021 season.
In the sixth, Columbus scored a run to advance their lead to 3-1. An RBI single from Raynel Delgado scored Daniel Schneeman and pushed the Clippers’ lead to two runs. In the eighth, it all fell apart for Syracuse, who allowed six runs to allow the Clippers to take a 9-1 lead and fully pull away. It was an inning of unforced error for the Mets, who committed a costly error on a potential double-play groundball and walked four of the 10 batters that came to the plate. The fateful blow of the frame was a three-run triple from Schneeman, who finished the night with three walks, a triple, a stolen base, two runs scored, and three runs driven in.
While the Clippers offense pulled away, their bullpen shut the door. Jaimie Barria, Anthony Gose, and Tanner Burns tossed the final three innings in hitless and scoreless fashion, allowing three walks while striking out seven. The Mets did not have a hit among the final 26 batters that came to the plate.
Syracuse is home all week against the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, the Columbus Clippers. Game four of the six-game series is scheduled for a 6:35 pm first pitch on Friday with Mike Vasil scheduled to start for the Mets.
