The inaugural season for the Syracuse Mets started on April 4, 2019. The much anticipated season opener featuring the Syracuse debut of Tim Tebow ended with a defeat to the Pawtucket Red Sox, 6-3 in a 10-inning affair.
Former All-Star pitcher Hector Santiago got the starting nod for the Mets and went five innings. Santiago gave up two runs that came on a fifth inning home run by Red Sox second baseman, Mike Miller. Santiago tossed 82 pitchers, with 50 going for strikes. Santiago gave up three hits, walked three and struck out three.
The Mets bullpen had a mixed bag of results as they were forced to use five pitchers. Reliever Paul Sewald pitched a scoreless sixth inning despite giving up two hits. Santiago was in line for the win when Daniel Zamora gave up a run in relief.
Ryan O’Rourke pitched two innings and had a rough outing resulting in a loss. O’Rourke was noticeably frustrated during his warmup with the movement of his pitches. O’Rourke went two innings gave up three hits, three runs (two earned), walked two and struck out one.
Offensively, the Mets were able to score three runs on six hits and two errors. Tim Tebow didn’t record a hit in four appearances. Carlos Gomez, a former two-time All-Star with the Brewers, also went hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts. Gomez appeared to be out in front on a lot of off-speed pitchers thrown his way.
Rajai Davis, hitting cleanup for the Mets as the designated hitter, went 2-for-4 with a run scored. The 38-year-old Davis displayed his speed in stealing second base after getting caught off first base. However, later in eight inning, Davis was thrown out at third base effectively ending the inning where the Mets had first and second and two outs.
Photo by James Farrance Photography
Mets first baseman, Travis Taijeron, displayed his power on Opening Day after hitting a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Neither team had a clean game in the field, which can be expected early into the season. Mets third baseman David Thompson had two errors in the first inning. Both errors were on throws to first base, where he later played when Dillson Herrera was brought in to play third base. Tebow slipped in left field on a base hit and was lucky to prevent the ball from going past him. Red Soxs also had two errors in game.
Red Sox first baseman Michael Chavis had a great game offensively going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a run batted in, which was on a solo home-run to tie the game in the eighth inning off Daniel Zamora. Red Sox second baseman, Tony Renda, had the game-winning double that scored three runs in the top of the tenth inning. Former major league catcher, Sandy Leon, went 2-for-5 with a run batted in.
Red Sox pitching did well in the opening game of the year. Starting pitcher Mike Shawaryn went 5 1/3 innings giving up three runs and striking out seven on 86 pitching, with 56 pitches going for strikes. The bullpen finished the game giving up only two hits in and one walk over the next 4 2/3 innings. Lefty Josh Taylor gets the win after throwing two scoreless innings. Former New York Met reliever, Jenrry Mejia tossed a scoreless tenth inning for his first save of the year.
The Mets continue their opening home series against the Pawtucket Red Sox with game two of a four game series tomorrow, April 5, at 1:05 p.m. ET at NBT Stadium.
