MJ Melendez put on the kind of show that makes a box score jump off the page. Syracuse rolled past St. Paul, 10-4, and Melendez was the engine behind it, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double and five runs batted in.
The outburst came in a game that keeps Syracuse’s season interesting. With two games left in this series and one more six-game set on the schedule - a home series starting Tuesday - Syracuse still has a shot at grabbing a postseason spot in the International League.
Melendez wasn’t the only one doing damage. Vidal Bruján finished 1-for-3 with a homer, two runs, two walks and an RBI, while Ronny Mauricio scored twice and drew a walk.
Billy Amick added a pair of doubles and scored twice, and Jose Ramos drove in three runs. Hayden Senger also chipped in with an RBI.
Syracuse got enough from its pitching staff to keep the game in hand. Kevin Herget worked 3.0 innings and allowed two earned runs, Saul Garcia tossed 2.0 scoreless frames, and Garrett Stratton gave up one run in 2.0 innings. Brian Metoyer added 1.1 innings with three strikeouts, and Jefry Yan finished it off with 0.2 scoreless innings.
In Portland, the Rumble Ponies came up short against Binghamton, losing 8-4 despite a strong night from Marco Vargas. He went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and a stolen base.
Eli Serrano III also had a productive night, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Eddinson Paulino finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
But R.J. Gordon’s outing put Binghamton in an early hole it couldn’t escape.
He lasted just 1.2 innings and was charged with six earned runs. Felipe De La Cruz followed with 1.1 innings and one earned run, while Cionel Pérez, Cristofer Gomez, Luis R.
Rodriguez and Carlos Guzman each covered the rest of the game.
STAR OF THE NIGHT
MJ Melendez
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