Mark Vientos Homers in Syracuse Loss

The Syracuse Mets (Triple-A) continued their season-opening series against the Rochester Red Wings, The Washington Nationals Triple-A affiliate. Jose Buttó took to the bump against Thaddeus Ward.

Buttó started the game giving up a lead-off single to Jacob Young, but quickly erased the baserunner with a slick pickoff move. Buttó would run into trouble, giving up consecutive hits to James Wood and Juan Yepez. A dropped fly ball by Drew Gilbert in centerfield allowed Wood to score and Yepez to advance to third base. Buttó battled back and earned a groundout to close the first inning.

The second inning would spell more baserunners for Buttó. A walk and stolen base by Erick Mejia would put a runner in scoring position for the Red Wings. Mejia would come around and score due to a throwing error by Luisangel Acuña.

Buttó controlled the next two innings with a multitude of weak contact and ground balls. Buttó’s fifth and final inning was capped off by a solo home run by Juan Yepez, putting the Red Wings up 4-0. Nate Lavender was the first pitcher to come in from the bullpen. He was quickly greeted with a solo home run by Jack Dunn. Lavender allowed two more hits, but stopped further damage. Dedniel Núñez had an abbreviated showing, recording one out after coming in to relieve Lavender.

In the eighth inning, Shintaro Fujinami made his Mets organizational debut. While demonstrating his elite potential, Fujinami also displayed his lack of control with three walks. However, he escaped trouble allowing no runs or hits while picking up his first strikeout.

Jon Duplantier handled the ninth inning where he allowed two runs and two hits.

The Syracuse offense would start the game slow, not getting a hit until Yolmer Sánchez’s single in the third inning. It wouldn’t be until the seventh inning when Syracuse opened up the scoring with a Mark Vientos opposite field home run. Ben Gamel followed with an extra-base hit of his own, but three quick outs shut down the rally attempt. Syracuse would put another run in the bottom of the ninth inning when Sánchez hit an RBI single to bring home Vientos.

Defensive misplays and a lack of control marred Jose Buttó’s first outing of the season. He finished the day allowing five hits, three runs (two earned), four walks, and two strikeouts in five innings pitched. As a player expected to be up in the big league rotation sometime this year, he’ll be asked to provide more stability for this Syracuse squad for the rest of the season.

After the opening day fireworks, both Drew Gilbert and Luisangel Acuña were held in check by the Rochester pitching staff, combining to go 0-for-8 and a strikeout.

Mark Vientos. Photo by Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score

Hitters

3B Mark Vientos – 2-for-3, 2R, HR, 2B, RBI, BB, K
2B Yolmer Sánchez – 2-for-3, R, RBI, K
CF Drew Gilbert 0-for-4, K
CF Trayce Thompson 0-for-4, 4 K

Pitchers

RHP José Buttó – 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 4 BB, 2 K
LHP Nate Lavender – 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K
RHP Dedniel Núñez – 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H
RHP Shintaro Fujinami – 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 BB, K
RHP Jon Duplantier – 1 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BBB

Player of the Game

Mark Vientos bounced back after a quiet opening-day game. The graduated prospect had a very active day, reaching base three times including a home run in the seventh inning and a double in ninth. Vientos, who held a .999 OPS last season in Syracuse, has proved to be a dominant Triple-A hitter. It will be interesting to see Vientos’ continued development at the plate and the hot corner.