Megill shines, but Syracuse falls to Lehigh Valley, 4-3, on Saturday night

*Allentown, PA – *Syracuse Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill had his best Triple-A start of the season, but Syracuse lost a late lead in a 4-3 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Saturday night at Coca-Cola Park. Despite the loss, the Mets have still won three of five games this week against the IronPigs.

Syracuse (42-57, 9-16) struck first in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Luke Voit, Jonathan Araúz, and Luke Ritter all worked walks to load the bases. Carlos Cortes followed with a two-run double to left field that scored Voit and Araúz for a 2-0 lead.

Lehigh Valley (51-47, 15-10) got on the board in the bottom of the third. Jordan Qsar singled, and Dustin Peterson walked to put two runners on base for Esteban Quiroz. The 31-year-old proceeded to double to the right field corner to score Qsar and move Peterson to third base as the IronPigs cut the deficit to one, 2-1. Simon Muzziotti followed with a sacrifice fly out to center field, scoring Peterson and knotting the game up, 2-2.

Those were the only runs that Megill allowed. Syracuse’s starter went six innings, allowed only three hits and one walk, and struck out six batters. 52 of Megill’s 92 pitches were thrown at least 95 mph and 17 of the pitches were at least 97 mph, including a 98.9 mph fastball, which was Megill’s fastest pitch thrown in Triple-A this season.

The Mets regained the lead in the sixth. Ritter singled, and Cortes doubled to put runners at second and third. Two batters later, Michael Perez walked to load the bases. Branden Fryman followed with a groundout, but Ritter scored from third on the play to give Syracuse a 3-2 advantage.

The IronPigs came all the way back in the eighth. Qsar walked, and Peterson doubled, placing runners at second and third. Quiroz and Muzziotti both struck out though, giving the Mets hopes of keeping the lead. Syracuse intentionally walked Weston Wilson to bring a left-hander in Darick Hall to the plate, but Hall singled to left field, scoring Qsar and Peterson to give Lehigh Valley a 4-3 lead.

Syracuse put the tying run on base in the ninth when Abraham Almonte walked with one out, but Rafael Ortega and Ronny Mauricio both struck out to end the ballgame.

The loss also brought an end to Luke Voit’s home run streak. Voit had homered in six consecutive games entering Saturday. Despite not hitting a home run, Voit reached base four times with a single and three walks.

The Mets and IronPigs conclude their six-game series on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Denyi Reyes is slated to start for Syracuse against Lehigh Valley right-hander Nick Nelson. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.