The Syracuse Mets lost their season opener to the Worcester Red Sox by the score of 11-2. As the score would indicate, things did not go Syracuse’s way.
The game did not start off that poorly. In fact, there was cause for excitement when Brett Baty, the second batter of the game/season hit an opposite field double.
Baty’s second at-bat did not go nearly as well. In the third, Carlos Cortes and Danny Mendick led off the inning with back-to-back singles.
What could’ve been a big inning off Worcester starter Garrett Whitlock stalled when Baty grounded into a double play. Francisco Álvarez would pick him up smashing an opposite field RBI double.
The opposite field double was traveled 101.5 MPH off the bat. It was the start to a very impressive day for Álvarez.
Álvarez was the best Syracuse player in the game. He was 2-for-4 with a run, double, walk, two strikeouts, and an RBI. He’d also steal a base.
While he stole his first base since 2021, he’d catch David Hamilton trying to steal a base in the seventh. Hamilton actually swiped one in the first, and he is coming off a 70 steal season.
Surprise Syracuse starter Tony Dibrell was strong to start the game. He retired eight of the first nine batters he faced before walking Jarren Duran with two outs in the third.
Hamilton made Dibrell pay for the walk by hitting a two run homer putting Worcester up for good. They would then put the game away in the fourth.
Dibrell allowed three straight one out hits putting Worcester up 3-1. The lead grew to 4-1 on a wild pitch. Then, Greg Allen hit a two run homer putting Worcester up 6-1.
It should be noted while Dibrell has predominantly been a starter in his professional career, he made this roster as a reliever.
Syracuse was down 6-1 and lose 11-2, but they still had their chances with 10 hits and two walks. However, they’d go 1-for-12 with RISP stranding 13 base runners.
Looking at the other top prospects, Mark Vientos, traditionally a very slow starter, was Mauricio was was 1-for-5. Ronny Mauricio was 1-for-5 with a walk and three strikeouts.
The one bright spot from a pitching standpoint would be T.J, McFarland, who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless striking out two. Top prospect Eric Orze was roughed up allowing three runs on a hit and two walks.
Syracuse returns to action against Worcester on Saturday.
