Syracuse Mets 2–0 Worcester Red Sox: D'Andre Smith's two-run homer, quartet of arms combine for four-hit shutout

Xzavion Curry, Jack Weisenburger, Zach Franklin and Dylan Ross combined on a four-hit shutout as the Syracuse Mets beat the Worcester Red Sox 2–0 at NBT Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. D'Andre Smith broke a scoreless tie in the seventh inning with a two-run home run off Seth Martinez, providing the only offence of the game.

How It Unfolded

The game was a pitchers' duel from the first pitch. Curry started for Syracuse and worked 4.2 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and a walk while inducing nine groundouts. The right-hander left with two runners on in the fifth, but Weisenburger entered and retired all nine batters he faced across three perfect innings — a stretch that kept Worcester off the board and earned him the win (2–5).

On the other side, Worcester left-hander Raymond Burgos matched zeroes for five innings, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out four. He exited after 74 pitches with the game still 0–0.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the seventh. Jose Ramos led off with a walk, and Smith followed by launching a 1–0 pitch from Seth Martinez over the wall for a two-run homer — his second of the season. Martinez (3–3) took the loss.

Franklin recorded a hold with a strikeout to end the eighth, and Ross pitched a clean ninth for his fifth save of the season.

The Turning Point

Weisenburger's third perfect inning was the unsung pivot. He inherited a 0–0 game in the fifth with two runners on and escaped without damage, then retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh. That 3.0-inning, 33-pitch bridge turned a still-open game into one where a single swing could decide it — which Smith delivered.

Key Performers

D'Andre Smith (SYR): 1–2, HR (2), BB, 2 RBI. His seventh-inning blast was the game's only hit with runners in scoring position (Syracuse went 1-for-8 as a team).

Jack Weisenburger (SYR): W, 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Nine up, nine down. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 6.83 with his best outing of the season.

Xzavion Curry (SYR): 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Nine groundouts on 67 pitches. Curry extended his personal unbeaten streak — he is now 3–0 across 13 appearances (11 starts) with a 3.84 ERA.

Raymond Burgos (WOR): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K. The Worcester starter deserved a better fate, but his offence managed only two hits all afternoon.

Player of the Match: Jack Weisenburger.

By the Numbers — Interpreted

The boxscore shows Syracuse out-hit Worcester 6–2 but the real story is pitching. The Mets' staff posted a 0.67 WHIP across nine innings, walked only two and held Worcester to an .067 average with runners on base (0-for-5 RISP). Worcester's 2 hits matched a season low for the club.

Syracuse's 2 runs came on just 1 hit with RISP — Smith's homer — illustrating how thin the margin was. The Mets also ran the bases well: Nick Morabito (his 41st steal) and Émilien Pitre each swiped a bag.

Worcester's defence committed two errors (Kiner-Falefa and McWilliams), and Syracuse turned two double plays that snuffed out the few threats the WooSox built.

What It Means

Syracuse (64–61) pulled within one game of Worcester (63–58) in the International League East standings. The win gave the Mets a split of the six-game homestand against their division rivals. The Mets next travel to face the Buffalo Bisons (date TBC), while Worcester returns home to host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

Both teams are jockeying for playoff positioning with roughly three weeks remaining in the regular season.

Verdict

A classic Triple-A pitchers' duel decided by one swing. Syracuse's bullpen — particularly Weisenburger's perfect bridge — was the difference in a game where neither starter allowed a run. The Mets' formula of strong relief and timely power continues to keep them alive in the IL East race.