Live to see another day: Walk-off homer extends Syracuse Mets’ playoff bid

On a cloudy and chilly early fall evening at NBT Bank Stadium, the Syracuse Mets found themselves in a must win situation. Earlier in the afternoon, the Rochester Red Wings took care of business with a 7-3 victory over the Buffalo Bisons. This meant a big shift in the standings for the Mets.

With that Red Wings victory, the Mets risked being eliminated from AAA playoff contention with a loss but with a win, their season gets decided with the result of the regular season finale tomorrow. 

“We didn’t expect this,” Mets season ticket holder Matthew Fuller said. “They’ve been playing so well lately.”

Syracuse has won eight of its last 10 games, including five straight over the IronPigs since Tuesday.

“We got a real good shot,” Fuller said. “You got to win. You win tonight, you win tomorrow, you are in real good shape.”

While the playoff race might have been in contention for Syracuse, it doesn’t mean the role of minor league baseball changes. Over the last few days, the Mets have lost shortstop Ronny Mauricio as he headed to the major league roster on Friday. Mauricio has hit 18 home runs this year, tied for the second most on the roster. 

In Mauricio’s spot tonight though was 31-year-old Zack Short. The shortstop has struggled throughout the season and heading into tonight’s game was batting just over .200. But in the bottom of the second inning, Short came through with a three-run double towards right center field, clearing his teammates off the bases. In tonight’s game alone, Short matched his RBI mark for the month of September. Short’s three hits this month after that base clearing knock were all doubles. 

“He’s one of the best shortstops we have seen all season,” Mets broadcaster Joe Puccio said about Short after being activated from the seven day injured list yesterday. “They really missed him.” 

In response to the Mets offensive performance in the second inning, the IronPigs responded in the top of the third with left fielder Wuilfredo Antunez hitting his first homer of the series. The scoring continued for Lehigh Valley in the top of the fifth when Mets pitcher Ryan Lambert relieved the injured Garrett Stratton. Lambert walked in a run and gave up a sac fly tying the score at threes. 

The Mets went through a deep bullpen game in this must win matchup exploring all arms. In total, Syracuse pitched eight players, allowing four runs on 10 hits. 

“Most of the season if you said ‘bullpen game’ I’d be scared,” Fuller said. “The bullpen’s been one of the strengths of the team, which I didn’t think it was going to be early in the season.”

But the IronPigs had former MLB All-Star pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. in its bullpen. Cortes Jr. took over for Lehigh Valley starter Casey Lawrence and pitched three innings while allowing just two hits and striking out three batters, keeping his team in the game. 

Before the winning run, a big opportunity for the Mets came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Syracuse had runners on first and second when manager Dick Scott pinch hit Eric Wagaman with two outs in the inning. After a six pitch at bat, Wagaman struck out on a three and two count. 

But in the top of the ninth is when the momentum and score change came for the IronPigs. After two singles by the IronPigs, first baseman Keaton Anthony hit a fly ball into center field deep enough to allow Antunez to tag up from third and score the winning run. Anthony had two RBIs in the game and is fifth on Lehigh Valley with 50 this season. 

Syracuse’s final chance came in the bottom of the ninth with the season and playoff contention on the line. Short, who had been clutch all night long, continued his performance with a walk to start off the inning. Then, D’Andre Smith, the first hitter in the order, came to the plate. On a one and one count in his fifth at bat, the center fielder crushed a ball into deep left field, sending Mets fans home ready to come back for a final chance at the playoffs tomorrow afternoon. 

“Just an unbelievable scene, that’s the moment of the year,” Puccio said after calling the game-winning home run. “For them to see the non-light at the end of the tunnel, to then provide more light is astonishing.”