D’Andre Smith turned Syracuse’s night into a lifeline.
With the Mets down one in the bottom of the ninth and one out away from the finish line, Zack Short drew a walk to put the tying run aboard. Smith then ended it with a two-run walkoff homer, lifting Syracuse to a 5-4 win over Lehigh Valley and keeping the season alive. It was the kind of swing that can change everything this late in the year.
Smith’s impact wasn’t limited to the bat, either. Earlier in the game, he made a diving catch in center with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, a play that preserved Syracuse’s lead at the time. For a player learning the position on the fly, it was a standout all-around effort.
Smith finished 1-for-5 with a run, a homer and two RBI. Short was just as central to the finish, going 2-for-3 with a run, a double, three RBI and a walk. Billy Amick added a 1-for-4 night with a run, a double and three strikeouts, while Vidal Bruján doubled and Jose Ramos reached with a hit and a walk.
Ryan Clifford scored a run and walked, and Hayden Senger also crossed the plate. Jefferson Rojas went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, and MJ Melendez was 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
On the mound, Syracuse got two scoreless innings from Dan Hammer, who allowed one hit and struck out two. Matt Seelinger worked a scoreless inning with three strikeouts, and Matt Turner delivered two scoreless innings with one hit allowed. Zach Franklin also kept Lehigh Valley off the board in his inning.
Ofreidy Gómez allowed one run in an inning, Garrett Stratton was charged with one run without recording an out, and Ryan Lambert took the blown save after allowing one run in his inning. Chayce McDermott gave up one run in the ninth but still earned the win to move to 3-1.
The result leaves the Mets a half-game behind Rochester in the playoff chase with one game left. Everything now comes down to Sunday’s regular season finale.
In Other News...
Mets May Have A Homegrown First Base Answer After Pete Alonso
Corey Collins spent his second pro season giving the Mets a look at something they do not always get to enjoy from within the system: a young hitter with real power and a patient approach. The 2024 draftee moved through Single-A and Double-A, and his left-handed bat stood out enough to put him on the radar as a possible middle-of-the-order type down the road.
Defensively, the path is still being sorted out, with Collins a converted catcher who could wind up at first base or even in the outfield. For the Mets, that matters because the organization is always thinking ahead at the cold corner, and a homegrown option with some pop and on-base skill is the kind of developmental track worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Prospects Forced A 2027 Roster Conversation In 2026
As the Mets minor league season winds down with only Triple-A Syracuse still active, the organization is already getting a clearer picture of which young players are forcing their way into the bigger conversation. Mitch Voit was recently recognized with the 2026 Player Development Award after a noticeable jump in his production, including more pop and more stolen bases, while the system has also gotten important contributions from Nate Lavender and Marco Vargas at different points of the year.
Lavenders return from Tommy John surgery has been one of the quieter development wins, with the left-hander handling both Triple-A and major league work well enough to keep his name in the mix. Vargas, meanwhile, has pushed up to Double-A and shown improved numbers despite injury interruptions, giving the Mets a few more reasons to think beyond the immediate roster picture and toward what the next wave could look like. [Read more 🡒]
Mets End Citi Field On A Frustrating Note Fans Wont Forget
The Mets final home game of the season turned into one more reminder of how uneven things have been at Citi Field, as Philadelphia pulled away for a 7-2 win. Jonah Tong was in trouble from the start, with the Phillies putting together an early surge that included four runs and four walks against the Mets starter, while Cristopher Sanchez kept New York in check with an efficient outing that featured six strikeouts and only two runs allowed.
New York did scratch out two late runs, but the comeback never got close once Justin Crawford delivered a three-run triple in the eighth inning to widen the gap. For a team that wanted to leave its home park on a better note, the finish only added to the frustration, and it sent the Mets into the next stage of the season with an ending their fans will remember for the wrong reasons. [Read more 🡒]