Kevin Parada. Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Triple-A

Game 1: Syracuse Mets (4-3) 2, Rochester Red Wings (1-5) 1

Box Score

Despite the Syracuse offense only putting up five hits in this seven-inning game, Cedrola had the big two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to put the Mets ahead.

  • Joey Lucchesi (1-0): 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 6 SO (50 of 80 pitches for strikes)
  • Grant Hartwig (1st save): 2 IP, 1 H (19 of 28 pitches for strikes).

Even though Lucchesi had four walks, he was able to avoid giving up the big hit as Rochester was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. While the left-handed pitcher has six walks in two games, he did go one inning more than his first outing back on April 1 against Worcester. As for Hartwig, he has yet to allow a run in three appearances on the young season.

Carlos Cortes, Photo by Ed Delany

Game 2: Syracuse Mets (5-3) 7, Rochester Red Wings (1-6) 0

Box Score

It was Ceddrola’s afternoon as his three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth capped a five-run sixth inning. The 25-year-old had four home runs all last season with Triple-A Louisville (124 games). Cortes got the scoring started with a two-run single in the fifth. He has recorded a multi-hit game in three of his last five games.

Brett Baty (thumb inflammation) has yet to return to the lineup.

  • Alex Valverde: 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 3 SO (38 of 58 pitches for strikes)
  • Josh Walker: 1 IP, 2 SO (11 of 16 pitches for strikes)
  • Eric Orze 1 IP, H, SO (6 of 11 pitches for strikes)

Valverde was making his second start against Rochester this week and he was able to improve with his command after walking four batters back on April 4. The 26-year-old has not allowed a run in back-to-back outings. In fact, the Mets as a staff, did not walk one single batter in Game 2.

JT Schwartz. Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Double-A

Portland Sea Dogs (3-0) 13, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (0-3) 3

Box Score

Rudick was the star of the game as he had three hits and a two-run home run in the top of the fifth. The 24-year-old had three home runs all of last season (90 games) and drove in six runs during the three-game series. Gomez and Young each had multi-hit games and Ritter had three of Binghamton’s six walks. However, the Rumble Ponies were 2-for-11 with men in scoring position.

  • Junior Santos (0-1): 4 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 SO (46 of 68 pitches for strikes)
  • Luis Moreno: 1 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 3 H, 2 BB’s, 2 SO (30 of 50 pitches for strikes)
  • Dedniel Nùñez 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, BB (15 of 24 pitches for strikes)
  • David Griffin: 2 IP, SO (19 of 27 pitches for strikes)

It was a rough 2023 debut for Santos as he allowed a run in three of the four innings he pitched in. Out of the six hits he allowed, four of them were doubles. The six runs that Moreno allowed in relief was the most he has allowed since August 19, 2021 when he was with Low-A St. Lucie.

Chase Estep. Photo Credits: Darrin Spencer

High-A

Jersey Shore BlueClaws (1-1) 8, Brooklyn Cyclones (1-1) 6

Box Score

Even in Brooklyn’s first loss of the year, Parada found a way to make an impact as the 11th pick in last year’s draft hit a two-run home run of the third to get the Cyclones on the board. As for Berbesi, he has four hits in the first two games of the year.

  • Dylan Tebrake (0-1): 3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 SO, WP (33 of 53 pitches for strikes)
  • Jace Beck: 2/3 IP, 4 R, H, BB, 2 SO (22 of 34 pitches for strikes)
  • Quinn Brodey: 2 1/3 IP, ER, H, BB, 2 SO, WP (19 of 34 pitches for strikes)
  • Manny Rodriguez: 1 2/3 IP, 2 BB’s, SO (19 of 35 pitches for strikes)
  • Kolby Kubichek: 1 1/3 IP, H, SO (10 of 12 pitches for strikes)

The main damage against Tebrake was done in the top of the second when Jersey Shore put up three runs on a pair of RBI singles and a double steal. The BlueClaws had a total of nine stolen bases in the win.

As for Brodey, he made his debut on the mound as he goes from being an outfielder to a pitcher. He did end up hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch, but he had two strikeouts within a four-batter period. He was not the only batter turned pitcher to appear today as Rodriguez made the fifth professional appearance of his career.

Abraham Almonte. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Low-A

Daytona Tortugas (2-0) 10, St. Lucie Mets (0-2) 3

Box Score

It was a quiet day for the St. Lucie offense (hitless until the fifth) with the only runs coming on the two-run home from from De Los Santos in the bottom of the eighth. It was just the sixth home run of the 19-year-old’s career in 88 games. According to Baseball Savant, his home run went 398 feet and had an exit velocity of 100.8 miles-per-hour. As for Villaviencio, he has multi-hit days in each of the first two games.

  • Christopher Vasquez: 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 SO (29 of 45 pitches for strikes)
  • Elliot Johnstone (0-1): 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB’s, SO (26 of 49 pitches for strikes)
  • Luke Bartnicki: 1 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 4 BB’s, SO, WP (19 of 37 pitches for strikes)
  • Jean Calderon: 1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB’s, 3 SO (24 of 39 pitches for strikes)
  • Joe Joe Rodriguez: 2/3 IP, BB (12 of 23 pitches for strikes)

As a whole, St. Lucie pitchers combined to walk 12 Tortugas batters in the loss. Vazquez’s sinker touched over 92 mph three times during the game and he used his slider 56% of the time (Baseball Savant). Johnstone ended up taking the loss in his professional debut.