On a sunny Wednesday evening at NBT Bank Stadium, the Syracuse Mets defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers 8-4. Leading the charge was 30-year-old Jared Young, whose three-hit night included a triple, home run, and four RBIs, highlighting both his personal development and the Mets’ overall momentum.
Early Blowout: Mets Set the Tone
The Syracuse offense began with fireworks in the first inning:
Gilberto Celestino, the leadoff hitter, hit a single to set the table.
Young came up big with an RBI triple, scoring the Mets’ opening run.
Pablo Reyes followed with an RBI single, increasing the advantage to 2-0.
A three-run lead was increased in the second inning:
With the bases loaded, Young hit a two-run single to make it 5-0.
Drew Gilbert had a career-high four hits, plating Young with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 6-0.
Young’s Star Turn
Jared Young had a great stat line, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a triple, a single home run, and four RBIs, finishing with a.967 OPS—remarkable productivity.
In the first inning, his RBI triple created a dynamic tone.
His two-run single in the second inning served as important insurance.
A solo home run in the fourth stretched Syracuse’s advantage to 7-1, capping his outstanding performance.
This performance demonstrated Young’s flexibility and clutch hitting, reflecting his season’s growth.
Supporting Cast & Game Flow
Despite Omaha’s efforts to fight back (a solitary RBI in the third and a two-run triple in the sixth), the Mets’ offense replied emphatically.
In the sixth inning, David Villar hit a two-run homer to restore a four-run lead (8-4).
Drew Gilbert’s four-hit effort (4-for-5 with a double and an RBI) provided valuable assistance for Young.
Blade Tidwell pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings, allowing only one run and four strikeouts. The bullpen, which included Junior Fernandez, Jose Castillo, Julian Merryweather, and closer Dylan Ross, shut down Omaha to secure the victory.
What This Means for Syracuse
The Mets go 17-6 on the homestand and 48-50 overall, moving atop the International League rankings.
Young’s breakout performance underlines his status as a vital asset. Over 32 games, he had a 272 batting average, 10 home runs, and a good OPS, which matches his major-league performance.
Gilbert’s consistency—a.333 average and.772 OPS in July—predicts a strong season for Syracuse’s future prospects.
Looking Ahead
Syracuse will play Game 3 of its six-game series on Thursday, looking to build momentum. Nolan McLean will start against Omaha’s left-hander Dallas Keuchel. The first pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m., and the Mets want to maintain their offensive dominance.
Final Takeaways
- Jared Young’s big night—three hits, a homer, 4 RBIs—was the difference-maker.
- Strong offensive support from Villar, Gilbert, and Celestino powered the team.
- Effective pitching—a solid start and bullpen stability—completed the package.
All signals point to a confident team that will ride high for the rest of the homestand. Syracuse is getting closer to making the International League playoffs thanks to rising star performances and roster depth.