The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (30-14) and the Syracuse Mets (20-24) played game five on Saturday night from NBT Bank Stadium. Nabil Crismatt (4-1, 1.96 ERA) was on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Joander Suarez (0-1, 24.00 ERA) of Syracuse.
Syracuse right fielder Drew Gilbert, first baseman Jared Young, and shortstop Luis De Los Santos all hit RBI singles for a 3-0 lead, followed by Jakson Reetz’s two-run home run made it 6-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Luis De Los Santos grounded into a forceout at second base scoring Jared Young for a 7-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley started to battle back. At the top of the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley designated hitter Oscar Mercado worked a four-pitch walk bringing home Justin Crawford and it was now 7-1 Syracuse. Next, left fielder Cal Stevenson hit a two-run RBI single to right field scoring Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Garrett Stubbs. It was now 7-3 Syracuse.
Cal Stevenson finished the night 1 for 4 with a single and two RBIs. At the top of the seventh inning, Lehigh Valley first baseman Buddy Kennedy hit Tyler Zuber’s sweeper for a three-run home run at 357 feet to left-center field and it was now a 7-6 Syracuse lead. It was Kennedy’s sixth home run of the season and the fourth straight game with a home run.
Kennedy finished the night 2 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. Unfortunately, the IronPigs could not complete the comeback and suffered another loss to the Syracuse Mets by the final score of 7-6.
The loss went to Lehigh Valley starter Nabil Crismatt for his second loss of the season. He pitched 4.1 innings, allowing nine hits, seven runs, and four strikeouts throwing 97 pitches, of which 64 were strikes. The win went to Syracuse starter Joander Suarez and Colin Poche earned his first save of the season.
The IronPigs and Mets conclude the six-game series on Sunday at 1:05 pm. Kyle Tyler (4-2, 3.12 ERA) will be on the mound for Lehigh Valley against Brandon Waddell (1-2, 1.42 ERA) of Syracuse. Purchase IronPigs tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
