New York Mets Minor League Report: Syracuse Denied A Title Shot After Turning Around Second Half

Syracuse finished a length and a half short in its run at an International League playoff berth. The Mets were eliminated from the second-half pennant race Sunday when Rochester clinched the title with a 15-8 victory over Buffalo. About a half-hour later, Syracuse lost 5-4 in 11 innings to Lehigh Valley. The Mets needed a win and a Rochester loss to sneak into the championship series. Instead, it will be Rochester vs. Memphis in the best-of-three beginning Tuesday in Memphis.

Syracuse was poised to at least go out a winner in its final game, but Cameron Weston, who was optioned back to Triple-A from New York on Saturday, allowed the tying run in the top of the eighth.

Lehigh Valley scored two in the 11th off Brian Metoyer and Tyler McLoughlin before Syracuse answered with one in the bottom half. It loaded the bases with one out, but D’Andre Smith hit into force play, which made It 5-4, and Jefferson Rojas, who was on fire in the first part of the week, flied out to left in foul territory to end an 0-for-5 day.

But the Mets’ organization can still feel good about how the club finished its season. It went 29-11 over its last 40 games (including wins in the first five games of their final series) to finish 43-31 and third in the IL in the second half, 1 1/2 games behind champion Rochester. Indianapolis moved ahead of the Mets into second with a win Sunday. For the full season, Syracuse was 81-68 and tied for fourth in the league with Charlotte.

Prospects Jonah Tong and Nick Morabito proved they were ready to return to the majors when rosters expanded on Sept. 1. Billy Amick, Emilien Pitre, D’Andre Smith, Jose Ramos, Nick Lorusso and Jonathan Santucci added depth to the roster after being promoted from Double-A.

But this revamped squad won’t be playing postseason baseball this year.

Mets End Season With Extra-Inning Loss

Ramos homered, singled, drove in a pair and scored three runs in defeat. His two-run shot in the second opened the scoring.

JOSE!!! pic.twitter.com/LiVq56LtlN

— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) September 20, 2026

Lehigh Valley erased that lead in the fourth on two solo home runs off Saul Garcia, the second of seven Syracuse pitchers. The Mets went back ahead in the seventh when Ramos singled, moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hayden Senger, advanced to third on a single by Zack Short and scored on a single by Christian Cairo.

The IronPigs tied it in the eighth with a sacrifice fly following a leadoff triple. In the 11th, Metoyer struck out the first batter he faced but then allowed a single that scored the zombie runner. Tyler McLoughlin came on and gave up a run-scoring double that made the score 5-3.

Ramos began the bottom half at second as the zombie runner. Kevin Parada flied out, but Short walked and Cairo singled to load the bases. Smith's grounder to deep third base brought Ramos home, but then Rojas flied out to end it. Syracuse stranded 12 runners in the game.

The Mets went with another bullpen game to wrap up the season. Xzavion Curry opened with two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one.

Syracuse Batting

Syracuse Pitching

New York Mets Transactions

• No Roster Moves

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Jonah Tong: MLB
2. Jack Wenninger: DNP
3. Elian Pena: DNP
4. Mitch Voit: DNP
5. Ryan Clifford: DNP
6. Nick Morabito: MLB
7. Jonathan Santucci: DNP
8. Carson Wiggins: DNP
9. Jacob Reimer: DNP
10. Aiden Robbins: DNP
11. Randy Guzman: DNP
12. Wandy Asigen: DNP
13. Chris Suero: DNP
14. Jefferson Rojas: 0-for-6, 2 K
15. Will Watson: DNP
16. Shane Sdao: DNP
17. Eli Serrano III: DNP
18. Antonio Jimenez: DNP
19. Emilien Pitre: DNP
20. Dylan Ross: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

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