Francisco Alvarez, Photo by Rick Nelson

Mets top prospect Francisco Álvarez had three more hits on Wednesday night, he’s now 12-for-27 in his last seven games for Double-A Binghamton.

Syracuse Mets (13-23) vs. Buffalo Bisons (21-16) 

This game was postponed due to rain and will be made up as a doubleheader on May 19th.

Akron RubberDucks (20-15) 5 vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (11-23) 3   BOX SCORE

The Rumble Ponies couldn’t get enough offense flowing despite drawing even with the RubberDucks with eight hits apiece. There were still a few positives at the plate for Binghamton. Super prospect, Francisco Álvarez, appears to be emerging from his slump as he collected three hits in this contest and extended his hitting streak to a modest seven games. Wyatt Young continues to hit no matter what level he’s put in. This game was no different as he drove in two of Binghamton’s three runs on a second inning triple. He’s now hitting a combined .310 in both Double-A and Triple-A.

The Rumble Ponies would try to rally in the ninth getting their first two batters on base and getting the tying run to first base. But a Brett Baty double play would doom any hopes of a comeback and the Rumble Ponies lost a tight one at home, 5-3.

Normally a reliever, Bryce Montes de Oca was tasked in being the “opener” for Binghamton in this game. His debut as a starter wasn’t exactly one to remember. Montes de Oca lasted only 2/3 of an inning, giving up two hits, one run and a walk while also allowing Akron to jump out to an early 2-0 first inning lead. Alex Kisena would try to settle things down after that, going 5 1/3 innings but he would still wind up with the loss in a 5-3 Akron victory.

Joe Zanghi though continues to steamroll through Double-A hitters. Tonight, being no exception as he struck out all four Akron batters he faced. In 15 innings of relief this season, Zanghi has a miniscule 0.60 ERA and is holding opposing batters to a .132 average.

Hudson Valley Renegades (15-19) 4 vs. Brooklyn Cyclones (15-17) 5    BOX SCORE

The Cyclones would only score in one inning all game, but they made that inning count. Brooklyn scored all five of their runs in the fourth inning, eventually leading to a 5-4 win over Hudson Valley. Most impressively about their offensive explosion in the fourth was that all of their runs came with two outs in the inning. The Cyclones would pepper the Renegades with four consecutive hits including a two-run double from Brooklyn native Jaylen Palmer and then Brandon Fryman would top the inning off with an RBI single to extend the Cyclones lead at the time to 5-1. Hudson Valley would never recover from the Cyclones fourth inning onslaught and lose 5-4.

RHP Oscar Rojas: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO, 2.45 ERA
RHP Sammy Tavarez: (W, 1-0) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO, 1.86 ERA
RHP Jordan Yamamoto: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 10.80 ERA
RHP Justin Courtney: (SV, 4) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 3.00 ERA

Control issues would plague an otherwise serviceable start from Oscar Rojas. Despite only allowing one run over just under four innings of work, Rojas would see his pitch count swell to over 60 as he allowed four walks over his short stint in this game. This was the first time all season that we’ve seen Rojas lose command like this, as coming into this game, Rojas had allowed only four walks all season.

The Brooklyn bullpen was able to bail him out and seal the win for the Cyclones. This was thanks in large part to Sammy Tavarez who would allow the Renegades no runs and only two hits as he earned his first win of the season and lowered his ERA to an impressive 1.86. Justin Courtney would run into a bit of trouble in the ninth allowing the first two batters he faced to reach base, but he was able to lock in and retire the next three batters in order and give Brooklyn a 5-4 victory.

It’s also worth noting that Jordan Yamamoto made his first appearance in 2022. Last season, Yamamoto had a very brief stint with the Mets, even making a start with the Major League squad. Injuries though would cut his season short and he looks to make a comeback this year. Coming out of the bullpen in this game, Yamamoto was probably looking for better results. In just under two innings, he would allow three hits, two runs and walk two batters, enabling Hudson Valley to pull within one of the Cyclones in the eighth. Yamamoto was once a highly touted prospect in the Miami Marlins system so the Mets hope they can see flashes of that soon this season.

Calvin Ziegler, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

St. Lucie Mets (25-10) 9 vs. Tampa Tarpons (14-20) 3  BOX SCORE

Alex Ramirez has been getting the most attention in the St. Lucie lineup thus far this season. Rightfully so, he is still perhaps the hottest hitter in the Met organization, which included him tallying another hit and RBI in this game. However, lesser known prospect, Carlos Dominguez, has been trying to seize the spotlight. If he continues to hit like he did in this game, Ramirez might be sharing that spotlight soon. Dominguez turned in a 4-for-5 game which included a double and a home run, his ninth of the season. He now leads all Met prospects in long balls.

The Mets would ride the bats of Ramirez and Dominguez, along with a two-double performance from William Lugo to a 9-3 win as they continue to remain the best team in the Florida State League, winning their seventh game in a row and 25th game of the season.

  • RHP Calvin Ziegler: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO, 3.10 ERA
  • RHP Luis Moreno: (W, 2-1) 4.1 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO, 3.49 ERA

Another game. Another dominant start from Calvin Ziegler. Pitch count worries, he had labored through 81 pitches in just 4 2/3 innings, would prevent Ziegler from earning the win in his otherwise impressive evening. Ziegler would come out with guns blazing early in this one, retiring the first seven batters he saw and after allowing his first baserunner of the evening, he would induce a double play on the next batter to retire the Tampa lineup in order his first time through. Even though he wasn’t able to get out of the fifth inning, Ziegler would still strikeout nine batters in his short outing. Ziegler struck out nine in his previous start too against Lakeland.

Luis Moreno was able to work the final 4 1/3 innings, giving up only one run and striking out six to ensure that St. Lucie would cruise to a tidy 9-3 win over Tampa.