IL· Season 2026
MJ Melendez hit two solo homers including the go-ahead blast in the eighth as Syracuse edged Jacksonville 4-3 at VyStar Ballpark.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Syracuse jumped ahead in the first inning. MJ Melendez drew a one-out walk and Ronny Mauricio followed by launching a two-run home run to center field — his 14th of the season — for a 2-0 lead.
Jacksonville cut the deficit in half in the second when Johnny Olmstead hit a solo home run to left-center, his eighth of the year.
Christopher Morel restored the two-run cushion in the fourth, leading off with a solo homer to left-center, his 12th of the season, making it 3-1.
The Jumbo Shrimp tied it in the sixth. After Austin Warren retired the first two batters, Cam Cannarella singled and Deyvison De Los Santos crushed a two-run homer to right, his 17th, evening the score at 3-3.
Melendez answered immediately in the eighth. He led off the frame with a solo shot to right off Jack Ralston (L, 5-2), putting Syracuse back in front 4-3.
The Turning Point
Chris Devenski entered for the save in the eighth and retired Jacksonville in order. In the ninth, he issued a one-out walk to Brayden Taylor, who stole second to bring the potential tying run into scoring position. Devenski regrouped, getting Taylor to pop out and striking out Olmstead swinging to end the game.
The Mets used six pitchers in a bullpen game. Kevin Herget started and allowed one run on two hits across 2.1 innings. Matt Turner (1.2 scoreless), Zach Franklin (1.0 scoreless), Austin Warren (1.1 IP, 2 ER), and Zack Mack (0.2 IP, making his Triple-A debut) bridged the gap to Devenski, who earned his first save with the Mets organization.
Key Performers
MJ Melendez (SYR) — 2-for-3, walk, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs. His solo shot in the eighth was the decisive hit of the game.
Christopher Morel (SYR) — 3-for-4, HR, RBI. Also singled twice to set the table from the middle of the order.
Chris Devenski (SYR) — 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. Locked down his first save at this level in 2026.
Deyvison De Los Santos (JAX) — 1-for-4, 2-run HR (17). His game-tying blast in the sixth gave Jacksonville life.
By the Numbers
Three home runs accounted for all four Syracuse runs — an illustration of the Mets' power-or-bust approach on the night. Syracuse managed only seven hits total but made three of them count for extra bases. Jacksonville had five hits and drew three walks but went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, a gap that decided the game as much as Melendez's bat.
What It Means
Syracuse improved to 20-23 in the International League's second-half standings, pulling within striking distance of a playoff push. Jacksonville slipped to 17-26 in the second half. The series concludes Sunday at 5:05 p.m. ET, with Syracuse RHP Jonah Tong (3-6, 5.32) opposing Jacksonville RHP Jace Beck (1-1, 4.95).
The Mets then return home to host Worcester on Tuesday, August 18 at 6:35 p.m. ET.
Verdict
Syracuse's bullpen game plan worked to perfection: six relievers combined to limit Jacksonville to three runs, and Devenski showed veteran poise in a tight ninth. The Mets' reliance on the long ball is a high-variance strategy, but on nights like Saturday, it travels.
Rivalry since 2022
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp vs Syracuse Mets Head to Head Results· 23
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and Syracuse Mets have met 23 times — Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp won 12, Syracuse Mets won 11, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2022. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp leads the head-to-head with 12 victories from 23 meetings. A combined 199 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 8.65 per match (100 for the home side, 99 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 19 matches (83%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 23 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 9–10 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 17 Aug 2026