Nick Lorusso hit seven home runs last year in 112 games for Double-A Binghamton. He’s hit six in his last 11 games, including one in each of his last three. He hit a solo shot Sunday (see it here) to make it 2-0 in the seventh inning, which proved to be the difference in the Rumble Ponies’ 2-1 win over Richmond.
Lorusso, 25, of Carmel, N.Y., plays first, second and third base and was a ninth-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Maryland.
Nick Lorusso. Photo credit: Rick Nelson
Triple-A
Buffalo Bisons (25-25) 6, Syracuse Mets (26-23) 4, 7 innings
- LF-1B Jared Young, 1-for-4, RBI (.563 OPS)
- 1B-LF Ryan Clifford, 2-for-3, HR (9), 2B, 2 R (.748 OPS)
- C Kevin Parada, 1-for-3, R, K (1.009 OPS)
Clifford, 22, would homer again in the second game of the doubleheader. He ended the day slashing .226/.305/.458/.763. He leads the International League in strikeouts with 72 in 177 at-bats.
- RHP Jack Wenninger (2.20 ERA) 5 1/3 IP, 6 R (4 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR, L
- LHP A.J. Minter (2.35 ERA) IP, K
Wenninger, who was considered for a big-league call up after Clay Holmes was injured, had his worst outing of the season. He had not allowed more than two runs in any of his previous eight starts.
Buffalo Bisons (25-26) 0, Syracuse Mets (27-23) 1, 7 innings
- RF Ryan Clifford, 1-for-3, HR (10), 2 K (.763 OPS)
- CF Jihwan Bae, 0-for-3, K (.791 OPS)
- 1B Eric Wagaman, 1-for-2, 2B, K (.705 OPS)
The teams combined for five hits. See Clifford’s team-leading 10th homer here. And see his Game 1 homer here.
- RHP Danis Correa (0.00 ERA) 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K, W
- RHP Ryan Lambert (5.79 ERA) IP, BB, 3 K
- LHP Nate Lavender (3.38 ERA) IP, BB, K
- LHP Anderson Severino (1.37 ERA) IP, K, SV
Five pitchers combined on the two-hit, seven-inning shutout.
Double-A
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (16-29) 2, Richmond Flying Squirrels (31-13) 1
- RF José Ramos, 2-for-3, HR (7), BB, K (.722 OPS)
- 3B Nick Lorusso, 1-for-4, HR (8), 2 K (.751 OPS)
- CF Eli Serrano III, 1-for-4, 2B, outfield assist (.691 OPS)
Ramos, 25, is from Panama and was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2018 as a 17-year-old. He played six seasons for Dodger minor-league affiliates before electing free agency last offseason after hitting 18 homers and posting a .782 OPS combined at Double-A and Triple-A. The Mets signed him to a minor-league deal in November. See his home run here.
- RHP Bryce Conley (5.06 ERA) 5 IP, 4 H, BB, 5 K
- RHP Dan Hammer (1.93 ERA) 1 2/3 IP, ER, 2 K, W
- LHP Felipe De La Cruz (1.98 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, K, SV
De La Cruz, 24, has struck out 18 and walked seven in 13 2/3 innings.
High-A
Hudson Valley Renegades (21-23) 0, Brooklyn Cyclones (13-31) 4, 7 innings
- SS Mitch Voit, 1-for-3, R, BB, CS, 2 K (.655 OPS)
- 3B Yonatan Henriquez, 1-for-3, RBI, R, 4 SB, K (.467 OPS)
- C Ronald Hernandez, 1-for-2, R, 4 SB, 2 BB (.718 OPS)
- DH Daiverson Gutierrez, 0-for-2, 2 SB, BB (.532 OPS)
In this episode of “only in the minor leagues,” the Cyclones stole 10 bases, went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position, and the game was called in the seventh inning because the field was too wet. Henriquez and Hernandez each stole four bases to tie a franchise record.
- RHP Adbert Alzolay (0.00 ERA) IP, H, BB
- LHP Gregori Louis (2.70 ERA) IP, BB, 3 K
- RHP Bryce Jenkins (0.59 ERA) IP, H, K
Seven pitchers combined for the three-hit, seven-inning shutout. Jenkins, 25, has given up one run on six hits in 15 1/3 innings this year, struck out 15 and walked three.
Low-A
Palm Beach Cardinals (24-21) 4, St. Lucie Mets (20-25) 5
- SS Elian Peña, 1-for-3, R, BB, K (.786 OPS)
- 3B Antonio Jimenez, 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, K (.750 OPS)
- 1B Yohairo Cuevas, 1-for-4, 2B, R, 2 K (1.088 OPS)
- LF Branny De Oleo, 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB, K (.756 OPS)
Peña entered Sunday slashing .191/.313/.265 with one home run in May after hitting .353/.467/.482 with one homer in April.
- RHP Justin Armbruester (0.00 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, H, W
- RHP Emilio Obispo (3.14 ERA) 3 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 7 K, HR
Obispo, a 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic, has fanned 18 in 14 1/3 innings.
