Mets Minors Recap: Álvarez Hits Mammoth Walk-Off, Mauricio Slugs Two Homers

Francisco Álvarez, Photo by Herm Card

A bevy of long balls from the Mets’ top prospects highlighted the minor league action on Thursday. Francisco Álvarez hit a walk-off homer for Syracuse and Ronny Mauricio had a two-homer game for Binghamton, while Brett Baty and Alex Ramirez also went yard.

AAA: Omaha Storm Chasers (48-47) 3, Syracuse Mets (43-53) 5 Box Score

DH Francisco Álvarez: 1-for-3, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, .259/.367/.527
1B Mark Vientos: 0-for-3, BB, .261/.343/.511
SS Kramer Robertson: 2-for-5, 3B, 2 R, SO, .243/.399/.368

The Mets snapped a three-game losing streak with a walk-off homer from none other than Francisco Álvarez. Álvarez had perhaps his best game at the Triple-A level, reaching base three times and accounting for four of the team’s five runs on the night (two RBI, two runs scored). He is now slashing .146/.362/.366 in 13 games with Syracuse. Mark Vientos went hitless but reached base on a walk, while Travis Blankenhorn drove in the only other Syracuse run with an RBI groundout.

3-3, bottom of the 9th… Álvarez pic.twitter.com/3bblavtkTG

— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) July 29, 2022

RHP Trevor Cahill: 3.0 IP, H, ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 5.71 ERA
RHP Adonis Medina: 2.0 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, K, 2.95 ERA
LHP Rob Zastryzny: 2.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 2 K, 3.48 ERA
RHP Bryce Montes de Oca: (W, 1-2), 2.0 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 6 K

Trevor Cahill had a rather unremarkable start, pitching three innings of one-run ball before handing it off to the bullpen. Adonis Medina and Rob Zastryzny locked it down for the middle innings, but Bryce Montes de Oca was credited with a blown save after allowing the tying run to score in the eighth inning. He eventually walked away with his first win for Syracuse, recording all six of his outs via the strikeout.

AA: New Hampshire Fisher Cats (42-51) 17, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (34-58) 8 Box Score

SS Ronny Mauricio: 2-for-4, 2 HR (18), BB, SO, .247/.285/.481
DH Brett Baty: 2-for-5, HR (14), 4 RBI, SO, .303/.394/.507
C James McCann: 1-for-3, R, 2 SO, .292/.346/.375

The Rumble Ponies may not have been victorious in this high-scoring affair, but the top prospects certainly came to the ballpark ready to hit. Ronny Mauricio clubbed two solo homers, his second multi-homer game of the year, to put him at 18 home runs on the season. Brett Baty hit a two-run homer, his 14th long ball of the season, and drove in two more runs with a ninth-inning single. James McCann made the start in his first rehab appearance since going on the injured list on July 10 with a left oblique strain, going 1-for-3 and catching six innings.

RHP Jesús Vargas: (L, 0-8), 2.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 7.99 ERA
RHP Dedniel Núñez: IP, H, 0 ER, 3 K

It has been a season to forget for Jesús Vargas, and his start on Tuesday was no exception, allowing six runs in 2 1/3 innings for his eighth loss in 11 appearances at the Double-A level. The bullpen arms behind him were not much better, as the Fisher Cats managed to score at least one run in six consecutive innings. The only reliever to walk away unscathed was Dedniel Núñez, who struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning.

A+: Brooklyn Cyclones (45-48) 2, Hudson Valley Renegades (50-42) 5 Box Score

CF Alex Ramirez: 2-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, BB, SO, .299/.365/.522
RF Stanley Consuegra: 3-for-4, 2B, R, SB, SO, .268/.342/.507
1B JT Schwartz: 2-for-4, .262/.348/.385

Alex Ramirez served as the entire Cyclones offense on Thursday night, slugging a solo homer and adding on an RBI single. Ramirez has been mashing as of late, collecting 14 RBI in his last seven games and recording six multi-hit games in his last eight. Stanley Consuegra contributed three hits and a stolen base, and he now has nine doubles in 18 games for Brooklyn.

Alex Ramirez hits his third home run in his last six games – this one an opposite field solo shot – and we're tied at 1-1 after four in Hudson Valley. #amazinstartshere pic.twitter.com/MhiDt6bE16

— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) July 29, 2022

RHP Carson Seymour: 6.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 3.68 ERA
RHP Sammy Tavarez: (L, 2-1), 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R (1 ER), 2 BB, K, 3.00 ERA

Carson Seymour was not at his sharpest, issuing three walks for just the second time this season, but he racked up nine strikeouts and limited the opposition to just one run over six innings. This was Seymour’s third straight quality start, lowering his season ERA down to 3.68 in the process. Sammy Tavarez gave up four runs in the eighth inning to turn the tides in favor of the Renegades, but only one of those runs was credited to Tavarez.

A: Palm Beach Cardinals (45-46) 8, St. Lucie Mets (54-38) 9 Box Score

SS William Lugo: 2-for-5, HR (8), 2 RBI, 2 R, .267/.356/.426
RF Carlos Domínguez: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, SO, .237/.318/.456
1B Raul Beracierta: 3-for-5, RBI, R, SO, .299/.353/.461

The Mets came out on top in a back-and forth battle thanks in large part to their offense, highlighted by three home runs and six extra-base hits. Eight of the nine starting position players recorded a hit. William Lugo hit his eighth home run of the season and drove in the deciding run in the seventh inning on an RBI groundout, while Carlos Domínguez and Raul Beracierta combined for five hits in the middle of the order.

RHP Joel Diaz: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 8.26 ERA
RHP Michael Krauza: (W, 1-1), IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, K, 4.91 ERA
RHP Joshua Cornielly: (S, 2), 2.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 2 K, 6.54 ERA

Joel Diaz was only able to make it through four innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and striking out two. However, the backend of the bullpen was brilliant, with Michael Krauza earning his first win of the year and Joshua Cornielly recording his second save with two scoreless innings to close out the victory.