Blade Tidwell. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Triple-A

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (50-45) 14, Syracuse Mets (40-56) 11

BOX SCORE

  • 1B Luke Voit: 1-for-4, 2 R, HR (12), 3 RBIs (38), BB, 2 K (.969 OPS)
  • 2B Luke Ritter: 1-for-4, 2 R, HR (8), 2 RBIs (21), BB, 3 K (.738 OPS)
  • DH Carlos Cortes: 1-for-4, R, 2 RBIs (31), BB, 3 K (.759 OPS)
  • CF Rafael Ortega: 1-for-4, R, 2 RBIs (15), BB, 2 K (.824 OPS)
  • LF Ronny Mauricio: 1-for-4, R, BB, 2 K (.850 OPS)

In one of the weirdest games of the minor league season, the Mets found themselves down 12-0 after the fourth inning and ended up scoring 11 unanswered runs from the 5th-7th inning to get back in the game. Voit hit a three-run home run as part of a five-run fifth as he has now homered in four straight games.

One inning later, it was Ritter’s turn as he hit a solo home run for his organizational-high 22nd home run of the year as his power surge in 2023 continued.

  • RHP José Butto (2-5, 6.62 ERA): 2 2/3 IP, 9 R (8 ER), 8 H, 4 BB, 2 K, HBP (32 of 65 pitches for strikes)
  • RHP Stephen Ridings (5.06): 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, 3 K, WP
  • RHP Sean Reid-Foley (3.38): 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K

Butto had arguably his worst outing of the season as he ended up not making it out of the third inning, eight of the runs that the IronPigs scored in the third inning came with two outs, including a grand slam that was hit off of Vinny Nittoli. The eight runs allowed by the right-hander were a season-high.

Double-A

 Suspended Game

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (43-47) 5, Reading Fightin’ Phils (38-51) 3

BOX SCORE

  •  CF Rowdey Jordan: 1-for-4, R, HR (10), 3 RBIs (43) (.785 OPS)
  • RF Agustin Ruiz: 1-for-4, R, HR (12), RBI (41), K (.677 OPS)

While the Rumble Ponies had more errors (4) than hits (3) in the conclusion of Tuesday night’s game, they were able to mount a comeback with a four-run eighth inning, three of those runs came on the home run by Jordan. As for Ruiz, his home run in the seventh that tied the game at one is his third home run in the last six games.

The Rumble Ponies had to use five pitchers to finish Tuesday’s game, but they all combined to give up five hits. Despite allowing a run in the seventh, Tebrake picked up his first Double-A win out of the bullpen. Minnick came in and pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. He has had four straight scoreless outings and has not walked a batter in three consecutive appearances (1.23 ERA in five outings this month).

Original Game

Reading Fightin’ Phils (39-51) 2, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (43-48) 1

BOX SCORE

  •  2B Rowdey Jordan: 1-for-2, BB (.790 OPS)
  • 3B Jose Peroza: 1-for-4, K (.810 OPS)

In the originally scheduled game, Binghamton did not have a single extra-base hit and they were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Jordan did manage to record a hit in both games, but he was also caught stealing.

  • RHP Dominic Hamel (4.77): 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 11 K (65 of 94 pitches for strikes)

In a shortened game that ended up going extra innings, Hamel ended up going the full seven innings since the Rumble Ponies had to use a lot of pitchers in the first game. He delivered one of his best outings of the season, as two of the three hits he allowed were doubles by the same player (Carlos De La Cruz).

It is the second time this month that the right-hander has had 11 strikeouts in a start (July 5) and he has 30 strikeouts to 10 walks in 21 1/3 innings this month. His 30 K’s in July are the second most of any pitcher in the Eastern League.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (46-45) 3, Wilmington Blue Rocks (38-52) 0

BOX SCORE

The Cyclones got the scoring started in the bottom of the first on Lugo’s ninth home run of the year. The 16 RBIs by Lugo in July are the most on the Cyclones and he is tied for the seventh-most RBIs in the South Atlantic League.

In the fifth, Rhylan Thomas extended his hit streak to nine games with an RBI single. An RBI single for Ramírez followed that up. In his last four games, the center fielder is 12-for-24 (.500) with five RBIs.

  • RHP Blade Tidwell (8-3, 3.09): 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K, HBP (57 of 93 pitches for strikes)
  • RHP Jace Beck (3.42): 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, BB, 2 K
  • RHP Brendan Hardy (1.88): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K
  • RHP Eli Ankeney (1.56, 2nd save): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, K

 In the win, the Cyclones had their eighth shutout of the year and Tidwell started it. Although the right-hander got into some early trouble in the second, he got out of it with a couple of strikeouts and he was able to settle in to the game.

Tidwell has not lost a start since May 10 (12 straight outings), and he has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of those outings. The rest of the bullpen allowed just one hit over the final four innings to preserve the shutout.

Sam Coonrod, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

 Low-A

Bradenton Marauders (53-38) 9, St. Lucie Mets (32-59) 7

BOX SCORE

Cuevas has only been at Low-A for four games and he did have three strikeouts on Wednesday, but the 19-year-old had had an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and a two-run single in the seventh. Williams had a multi-hit game for the third consecutive day. His .989 OPS in the fourth-most of any player in the Florida State League in July.

As a team, the Mets drew six walks, with three of them coming from Reimer. The 19-year-old has six walks in his last four games (had at least one walk in all four games).

  • RHP Douglas Orellana (4.04): 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 4 K, WP (42 of 75 pitches for strikes)
  • RHP Sam Coonrod (Rehab Assignment): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K

While Orellana gave up only two runs in this start, the Marauders stole four bases against him, and two of the three hits he allowed were doubles (one of them leading to a run). In four starts this month, the 21-year-old has 16 walks in 13 innings of work.

Florida Complex League

FCL Astros (16-17) 3, FCL Mets (21-12) 0

BOX SCORE

The Mets only managed three hits against two FCL Astros pitchers, but two of those hits went for extra bases. Baez had a double in the first inning and Castillo had a triple in the sixth, but neither were able to come around to score.

Esterlin was unable to record any decision. However, he had his second start year in which he threw four scoreless innings. However, he walked four batters for the third consecutive start. Arnaud came in after him and had this third consecutive scoreless outing. The 20-year-old has held opponents to a .120 batting average against in five outings this month (7 1/3 innings pitched).