The Syracuse Mets powered past the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders with a doubleheader sweep Saturday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium, winning the first game 9-4 and holding on for a 7-4 victory in the nightcap.
Ryan Clifford sparked the offense in both games, homering in each contest as Syracuse improved to 11-9 on the season. The RailRiders fell to 10-10 with the losses.
The Mets set the tone early in game one. Nick Morabito reached on an error and Jihwan Bae singled before Clifford launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning for a 3-0 lead.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre responded in the third when Jonathan Ornelas tripled home a run and Jasson Domínguez plated another with a groundout to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Syracuse broke the game open in the bottom of the third. Ronny Mauricio hit a solo homer, then Vidal Bruján crushed a two-run shot to make it 6-2. The Mets continued the assault when Onix Vega blasted a two-run homer to left-center field, extending the lead to 8-2.
The RailRiders added solo runs in the fourth on a Max Schuemann home run and in the sixth on an RBI single by Yanquiel Fernández, but Syracuse got an insurance run in the fifth when Jackson Cluff scored on a wild pitch for the 9-4 final.
Carl Edwards Jr. earned his first win in a Mets uniform, tossing five innings while allowing three hits, three runs, and three walks with two strikeouts.
In the second game, Clifford delivered again with a solo home run in the second inning to give Syracuse a 1-0 lead. The Mets added two more runs in the third after Vincent Perozo and Bae each doubled. Mauricio drove in a run with a groundout, and Clifford lined an RBI double for a 3-0 advantage.
Spencer Jones hit a solo homer for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the fourth, but Syracuse answered when Cristian Pache doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trace Willhoite.
The Mets created separation in the fifth inning. After singles by Morabito and Bae, Mauricio delivered a two-run double. He later stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bruján, extending the lead to 7-1.
The RailRiders mounted a late rally in the seventh with a solo homer by Paul DeJong and a two-run blast by Payton Henry, but Syracuse held on for the sweep.
Bryce Conley started game two and was perfect through three innings. Reliever Brandon Waddell earned the win after pitching the final three innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
Syracuse finishes its series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday afternoon. Top Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong is scheduled to make his second start of the season against Yankees No. 21 prospect Brendan Beck. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.