AAA: Worchester Red Sox 8 (9-6) vs. Syracuse Mets 10 (4-10)

  • DH Daniel Palka: 3-for-4, 1 HR (4), 5 RBI, 1 2B, .333/.389/.818
  • SS Wyatt Young: 1-for-3, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 2B, 1 SO, .286/.474/.321
  • LF Quinn Brodey: 1-for-4, 1 HR (2), 2 RBI, 1 SO, .118/.189/.324

The Syracuse Mets have now won each of the first three games of this five-game set against the Worchester Red Sox after entering this series with only one win to their name all year. The Mets had two different four-run innings in this one, including a massive bottom of the sixth which saw Wyatt Young lace a bases-clearing double down the third base line and Daniel Palka score him with a double of his own. Palka now has 15 RBI on the season and 8 XBH in just 33 ABs.

The Mets never trailed in this game, but the pitching staff let one five-run lead slip and almost let it happen again just a few innings later. Jose Rodriguez got into trouble in the fourth inning, retiring the first two batters but allowing the next two guys to reach before serving up a home run to Ryan Fitzgerald to end his night. Anthony Vizcaya earned the win, recording a strikeout for all four of his outs on the mound. Christin Stewart’s three-run homer off Eric Orze gave the Red Sox some life in the ninth, but Justin Dillon shut the door for the save despite allowing the tying run to reach base.

 AA: Binghamton Rumble Ponies 5 (4-7) vs. Portland Sea Dogs 12 (6-6)

Francisco Álvarez had a day off, and his battery mates Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio were unable to shoulder the load of the offense for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, who dropped a contentious game against the Portland Sea Dogs. Baty was ejected in the third inning for arguing a strikeout, but he would not be the only player ejected by the end of the night. Jake Mangum scored two with a triple in the third, while Jeremy Vasquez launched a two-run shot for his first home run of the season in the sixth, the last runs the Rumble Ponies would muster.

Marcel Rentería was involved in an ugly scene in the bottom of the third inning when he hit Sea Dogs batter Tyreque Reed with an 0-2 pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run. Rentería was arguing with the home plate umpire as Reed was making his way to first base, but Reed pivoted and charged Rentería, knocking him to the ground with a punch to the head. Both benches cleared and a brawl ensued, with Rentería staying down on the field for several minutes before being helped off by medical staff. Reed was ejected from the game, but no other players were disciplined.

The game got away from the Rumble Ponies from there, as the Sea Dogs scored at least one run in every inning from the third inning on, tagging Justin Lasko, Willy Taveras, and Brian Metoyer for a combined 10 runs.

A+: Brooklyn Cyclones 1 (7-5) vs. Hudson Valley Renegades 5 (6-6)

The Brooklyn Cyclones and Hudson Valley Renegades have now traded wins and losses in the first three games of this series, as the Cyclones struggled to get anything going offensively. They only managed to record two hits, both singles, but were caught stealing twice and grounded into two inning-ending double plays. JT Schwartz cooled off a bit after an explosive performance in Wednesday’s game, but he is still sporting a team-leading .856 OPS.

  • RHP Junior Santos: (L, 0-2), 3.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 SO, 7.00 ERA
  • RHP Evy Ruibal: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 SO, 3.00 ERA
  • RHP Jesus Vargas: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1.80 ERA

Junior Santos recorded his second loss in just his third start of the season, limiting the walks that plagued him in those first two starts but serving up seven hits including a two-run triple from the Renegades’ Eduardo Torrealba. Evy Ruibal struck out both batters he faced but allowed a run to score on a wild pitch. Jesus Vargas had an extremely promising outing, going four strong innings allowing just the one unearned run and striking out four. Vargas has a sterling 1.80 ERA through 10 innings as a key long reliever for the Cyclones.

A: St. Lucie Mets 1 (8-4) vs. Jupiter Hammerheads 0 (6-6)

William Lugo had perhaps the best game of his young career, finishing a home run shy of the cycle and manufactured the only run of the game for either team by roping a triple to left field in the top of the ninth inning and scoring on a wild pitch. Alex Ramirez singled up the middle in the ninth, and he now has a hit in all 10 games the St. Lucie Mets have played this season. The 19-year-old Ramirez is sporting an outstanding 1.170 OPS.

Lugo had the two hardest hit balls in the game at 107.9 mph and 106.5 mph.

  • LHP Nick Zwack: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 7.27 ERA
  • RHP Levi David: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
  • RHP Grant Hartwig: (W, 2-0), 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA

Nick Zwack was making his first start of the season for the St. Lucie Mets and was unlucky not to come away with a result. Zwack gave up 7 ER in his first 3 1/3 IP of the season, but he was fantastic on Thursday, allowing just three batters to reach base and retiring the final 10 batters that he faced. Levi David walked the bases loaded in the seventh, but Grant Hartwig got out of the jam and retired all seven batters he faced for the victory. David and Hartwig combined for four hitless innings, and neither pitcher has given up an earned run this season across 12 1/3 IP in total.

David had his fastball up to 96 mph and the spin rate on his up to 2968 rpms.