Mets Minors Recap: Cuevas Hits Fifth Homer in Five Games, Melendez Homers in Syracuse

Yohairo Cuevas hit 13 homers in his first 398 minor-league games. He has hit five in his last five. The 22-year-old Bronx native hit a three-run shot Friday in High-A Brooklyn’s 8-7 loss to Frederick. The homer (see it here) was his seventh of the season, setting a new career mark. The outfielder hit two for St. Lucie before he was promoted to Brooklyn. MJ Melendez also homered again for Syracuse Friday, driving in himself as the winning RBI over Worcester.

MJ Melendez. Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Triple-A

Worcester Red Sox (40-41) 7, Syracuse Mets (43-42) 8

Box Score

1B Ryan Clifford, 1-for-3, R, BB, 2 K (.658 OPS)
DH Jorge Polanco, 0-for-3, R, BB (.483 OPS)
LF MJ Melendez, 2-for-5, HR (5), 3 RBI, 2 R (.851 OPS)
RF Nick Morabito, 1-for-5, SB, K (.783 OPS)
2B Ji Hwan Bae, 2-for-4, 2 R, BB (.785 OPS)

Polanco, 32, is 1-for-11 with a home run in four rehab games since June 27. Melendez homered for the second straight game and it was a two-run shot that broke a 6-6 tie in the seventh.

RHP Tobias Myers (2.00 ERA) 3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K
RHP Xzavion Curry (4.74 ERA) 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K
LHP Jefry Yan (3.38 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, R, (0 ER), 2 H, 3 K, SV

Yan, 29, of the Dominican Republic has struck out 66 in 34 2/3 innings combined at Syracuse and Binghamton.

Double-A

Chesapeake Baysox (34-43) 5, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (29-50) 4

Box Score

2B Nick Lucky, 3-for-4, 3 RBI, SB, K (.834 OPS)
C Kevin Parada, 1-for-5, 2B, K (.540 OPS)
DH Chris Suero, 1-for-5, SB, 3 K (.762 OPS)

Suero stole his team-leading 22nd base. He’s also third on the team in homers with 11.

RHP R.J. Gordon (6.61 ERA) 5 IP, 5 H, BB, 2 K
RHP Justin Armbruester (1.59 ERA) IP, H, 2 K

It’s been a rocky season for Gordon, the team’s 18th-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline. But this was his longest outing of the season and arguably his best. He threw 50 of 83 pitches for strikes. Armbruester has allowed three earned runs over 15 1/3 innings combined at three levels.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (32-46) 7, Frederick Keys (48-29) 8

Box Score

SS Mitch Voit, 0-for-5, 2 K (.765 OPS)
RF Yohairo Cuevas, 2-for-3, HR (5), 3 RBI, BB, K (.647 OPS)
CF John Bay, 1-for-4, HR (11), 3 RBI, K (.785 OPS)
LF JT Benson, 1-for-3, HR (6), 2 R, BB, 2 K (.951 OPS)

Bay broke a tie with Voit for the team lead in homers with his 11th blast. He is second on the team in steals with 17. Voit is first with 26.

RHP Dakota Hawkins (3.00 ERA) 2 IP, 6 R, (5 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, K, 2 HR

Low-A

Tampa Tarpons (45-34) 1, St. Lucie Mets (35-42) 0

Box Score

SS Elian Peña, 0-for-4, SB, 2 K (.738 OPS)
CF Trey Snyder, 2-for-4, 2B, SB (.628 OPS)
C Chase Meggers, 1-for-4, 3 K (.654 OPS)

Peña leads the team in stolen bases with 26, which ranks fourth in the Florida State League.

RHP Christian Rodriguez (3.32 ERA) 3 2/3 IP, ER, 7 H, 7 K, L
RHP Kevin Herget (0.00 ERA) 2 IP, H 2 K

Herget, 35, started a rehab assignment. He threw 12 innings for the big-league Mets last season.

Rookie Ball Florida Complex League

FCL Mets (18-24) 1, FCL Marlins (16-21) 1, 4 innings, suspended

Box Score

C Yovanny Rodriguez, 1-for-2 (.873 OPS)
RF AJ Salgado, 0-for-1, R, BB, K (.393 OPS)

Rodriguez had the only Met hit in a game suspended early due to lightning. It will be completed on Monday.

RHP Roberto Pena (8.27 ERA) 3 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K

Dominican Summer League

DSL Mets Blue (9-14) 12, DSL Rangers Blue (14-9) 13

Box Score

SS Johnderis Sanchez, 3-for-4, 3 R, SB, CS, 2 BB, K (.695 OPS)
DH Dayron Oramas, 3-for-6, 3 RBI, 2 R (1.000 OPS)
RF Henry Manrique, 1-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB, K (.946 OPS)
LF Jonnhan Sanchez, 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SB, BB, K (1.068 OPS)

Sanchez the shortstop leads Mets Blue in steals with 13. Sanchez the outfielder leads the team in RBIs (20) and OPS and is slashing .389/.526/.542 over 72 at-bats. Mets Blue lost by a run after rallying for a seven-run ninth inning.