Peterson’s dominant pitching for Syracuse Mets forces Tides into series split

Pitcher David Peterson and Syracuse forced the Norfolk Tides to settle for a six-game series split Sunday, rolling to a 9-1 victory before 5,449 at Harbor Park.

Peterson struck out nine and gave just two hits and three walks in eight shutout innings, throwing 95 pitches. It was just his second Triple-A start of the season. The 27-year-old left-hander is 16-19 with a 4.83 ERA in 61 career MLB games, but he struggled mightily in eight starts this year with the New York Mets (1-6, 8.08).

It was only the second series the Tides (31-13) haven’t won this season, equaling a 3-3 split at Nashville. They have yet to lose a series.

Norfolk starter Keegan Akin struck out five in three perfect innings, but the Mets broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fifth inning off Kyle Dowdy (5-1). Lorenzo Cedrola’s single to center brought in Jonathan Arauz before Carlos Cortes slugged a two-run homer to right.

Syracuse (19-26) surged ahead 8-0 with a five-run seventh, mostly off Morgan McSweeney. Nick Meyer drew a bases-loaded walk, Danny Mendick singled home two runs and Ronny Mauricio hit a two-run double.

After Nick Meyer’s homer off Logan Gillaspie provided Syracuse’s final run in the top of the ninth, the International League-leading Tides averted a shutout in the bottom of the ninth when Connor Norby belted a homer off reliever Grant Hartwig.

Norfolk next will go to Tennessee for a six-game series against the Memphis Redbirds, starting at 7:45 Tuesday night.

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

Team, W-L, Pct., GB

East Division

Norfolk (Orioles), 31-13, .705, -

Durham (Rays), 23-21, .523, 8.0

Worcester (Red Sox), 23-22, .511, 8.5

Buffalo (Blue Jays), 22-23, .489, 9.5

Jacksonville (Marlins), 21-22, .488, 9.5

Lehigh Valley (Phillies), 21-23, .477, 10.0

Charlotte (White Sox), 21-24, .467, 10.5

Scranton/W-B (Yankees), 21-24, .467, 10.5

Syracuse (Mets), 19-26, .422, 12.5

Rochester (Nationals), 17-26, .395, 13.5

West Division

Iowa (Cubs), 25-17, .595, -

Memphis (Cardinals), 25-20, .556, 1.5

St. Paul (Twins), 23-20, .535, 2.5

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Nashville (Brewers), 23-21, .523, 3.0

Toledo (Tigers), 22-22, .500, 4.0

Columbus (Guardians), 22-22, .500, 4.0

Indianapolis (Pirates), 21-23, .477, 5.0

Louisville (Reds), 21-23, .477, 5.0

Gwinnett (Braves), 20-24, .455, 6.0

Omaha (Royals), 19-24, .442, 6.5