Photo by Rick Nelson
Dominic Smith‘s power had been virtually nonexistent since the second half of the 2021 season, but he seems to have finally found his stroke in recent days. His first-inning shot to right field on Saturday for Syracuse (Triple-A) was his second in as many games and his fifth in his last 11 games.
AAA: Syracuse Mets (58-82) 8, Buffalo Bisons (72-66) 3 Box Score
- Dominic Smith 1B: 1-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBI, K, .282/.365/.477
- Khalil Lee LF: 2-for-4, R, 2 2B, RBI, K, .216/.329/.374
- Francisco Álvarez DH: 1-for-5, RBI, 3 K, .191/.341/.382
Smith got the Mets on the board right away with a two-run home run in the first inning. This was his second-straight game with a home run, and he now has five home runs over his last 11 games. September has been his best month of the season, as he is slashing .290/.338/.581 so far this month.
Álvarez is hitting .250/.348/.400 in five games since returning from the injured list.
Dominic Smith hit a two-run shot in the first inning tonight.
He has four home runs in his last seven games.
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) September 17, 2022
- RHP Harol González (0-4, 7.83 ERA) 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
- RHP Drew Smith (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 1.0 IP, H, K
- RHP Michel Otanez (4-1, 6.59 ERA) 1.0 IP, H, BB, 2 K
González got off to a horrendous start with Syracuse, but has been significantly better since the beginning of September. After posting a 21.94 ERA through his first two Triple-A appearances, he has a very serviceable 3.57 ERA in his last four starts.
Smith made his third rehab appearance with Syracuse, tossing 14 pitches in one inning of work. He has not allowed a run in any of his four rehab appearances.
Otanez threw just 55% of his pitches (11 of 20) for strikes, but still managed to escape the inning unscathed.
AA: Hartford Yard Goats (76-60) 7, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (53-82) 0 Box Score
- Ronny Mauricio SS: 1-for-4, 2 K, .257/.294/.471
- Zach Ashford RF: 2-for-3, .250/.319/.363
- Rowdey Jordan CF: 1-for-3, .216/.308/.333
Binghamton’s offense was lifeless on Saturday night. The lineup had just six hits, all of which were singles, and had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position all game. Mauricio has picked up at least one hit in each of his last four games.
- RHP Jose Chacin (L, 4-9, 5.67 ERA) 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
- RHP Carlos Ocampo (0-0, 9.00 ERA) 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 K
- RHP Hunter Parsons (1-2, 5.31 ERA) 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB
Chacin struggled with his control in Saturday’s start, needing 89 pitches to make it through just four innings. The four walks are his season high, but he has reached that total in each of his last two starts.
Ocampo struggled in his Binghamton debut, with the three-run homer he allowed in the seventh inning putting the game well out of reach.
After putting together a stretch of five scoreless outings, Parsons has now allowed two runs in each of his last two appearances.
