Syracuse Mets vs Worcester

The game flipped in the top of the fifth. Brett Harris walked, Vinny Capra singled and Jason Delay doubled both home to cut it to 5-3. Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled, then Trevor Story singled home Delay to make it 5-4.

Chris Devenski replaced starter Jonathan Santucci. After striking out Eaton, Devenski left a pitch over the plate that Romy Gonzalez sent to left-centre for a three-run home run. Worcester led 7-5, and the six-run frame was complete.

Gonzalez's homer was the defining blow — six Syracuse batters had reached base and all scored. The Mets never led again.

Syracuse pulled within one in the sixth. Nick Lorusso walked, Ramos was hit by a pitch, and after a Senger sacrifice bunt, Zack Short reached on a throwing error by Capra that allowed Lorusso to score (7-6).

Worcester added breathing room in the eighth. Harris singled, Capra walked and Delay walked to load the bases with no outs. Mikey Romero drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Harris (8-6), and Franklin Arias followed with an RBI single to score Capra (9-6).

The Mets got one back in the bottom half. Ramos and Short walked before Morabito doubled into left to score Ramos (9-7). But Worcester stranded Short at third and retired Syracuse in order in the ninth.

• Romy Gonzalez (WOR) — 1-for-4, 3-run HR, 3 RBI. The go-ahead swing in the fifth was the game's decisive moment. Player of the Match.
• Hayden Senger (SYR) — 2-for-3, 2-run HR (10th), BB, sac bunt, 2 RBI. Kept Syracuse in the game.
• Nick Morabito (SYR) — 2-for-5, 2 doubles, RBI, run. Set the table from the leadoff spot.
• Jason Delay (WOR) — 1-for-4, double, 2 RBI, BB. His two-run double kick-started the fifth-inning rally.

Worcester's 11 hits to Syracuse's 7 reflect a sustained offensive attack rather than a single explosion: the WooSox collected hits in five separate innings and batted around in the fifth. The six-run fifth accounted for 67% of Worcester's total offence but only 4 of their 11 hits — walks and errors (Syracuse committed none, Worcester one) kept the line moving. Syracuse's four extra-base hits (two doubles, two homers) produced 6 of their 7 runs, highlighting a power-reliant attack that ran cold after the fourth inning. Santucci was charged with 6 runs on 6 hits over 4 innings, and the Syracuse bullpen combined for 7 walks in 5 innings — a control issue that proved decisive.

Worcester improved to 63-54 overall and 27-19 in the second half, keeping pace in the International League East race. Syracuse fell to 60-61 and 22-24. The teams continue their six-game series on Thursday 20 August at NBT Bank Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET.

Worcester's fifth-inning explosion erased a comfortable Syracuse lead in a game the Mets controlled for four innings. The WooSox punished a wobbly Syracuse bullpen with patient at-bats (six walks in the final five innings) while the Mets' offence, reliant on the long ball, couldn't manufacture runs after the eighth. A single big inning decided a game that was otherwise evenly contested.