Francisco Alvarez, Photo by Richard Nelson
Lots of storylines from the Tuesday minor league action including Tylor Megill getting rouged up in Syracuse, Francisco Álvarez hitting a home run in his second game following an ankle injury, and both the St. Lucie Mets and Brooklyn Cyclones winning Game 1 of their playoff series.
AAA: Buffalo Bison (70-64) 15, Syracuse Mets (56-80) 8 Box Score
- LF Jake Mangum 3-for-4, RBI, 2B, R, .330/.361/.451
- DH Francisco Álvarez 2-for-5, HR (7th in AAA), .183/.333/.392 (AAA stats)
- 1B Dominic Smith 3-for-4, 3 RBI, BB, HR (7), .273/.365/.443
Mangum has hit well since returning from injury and continues to make highlight reel catches from all three outfield spots. Álvarez hit his 25th overall home run of the year in just his second game back from an ankle injury that kept him out for almost three weeks.
Smith has now homered in two of his last three games for Syracuse.
- RHP Tylor Megill (16.88 ERA) 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
- RHP Drew Smith (0.00 ERA) 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 2 K
- LHP Nate Fisher (4.10 ERA) 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, 2 K
It was a rough night for Megill in his third rehab appearance for Syracuse and his fifth overall. He couldn’t get three outs and threw a whopping 29 pitches in the outing.
Smith fared better, though he did let one run score that he inherited from Megill.
Yoan Lopez and Josh Walker each tossed a scoreless inning.
AA: Binghamton had their game with Hartford postponed.
A+: Brooklyn Cyclones 8 (1-0), Aberdeen (0-1) 1 Box Score
- CF Alex Ramirez 3-for-5, 3 R
- 2B Jose Peroza 3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB, R
- DH Joe Suozzi 2-for-4, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
The Cyclones scored a single run in each of the first three innings and then put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth inning. They struck out just four times as a team in the impressive victory.
Ramirez, MLB’s No. 88 prospect according to Baseball America, had a strong finish to the regular season with an .890 OPS in September. Peroza has been on fire since the start of July with a .934 OPS.
Leadoff hitter Matt Rudick added a solo home run.
- RHP Luis Moreno 6 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 7 K
- RHP Nolan Clenney 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- RHP Daison Acosta IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K
The Cyclones pitching staff combined to allow only five hits and one walk while striking out 10.
Moreno entered the night with a Mets’ minor league-best 2.84 ERA this season for qualified pitchers. The 23-year-old uses a mid-90s fastball and a high-spin curve as his main 1-2 punch.
The Cyclones can clinch a spot in the South Atlantic League Finals with a win on Thursday against Aberdeen.
Blade Tidwell, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
A-: St. Lucie Mets (1-0) 6, Palm Beach Cardinals (0-1) Box Score
- 2B D’Andre Smith 1-for-4, BB, RBI, 2 R
- C Kevin Parada 1-for-5, RBI, 2B
- SS Junior Tilien 2-for-5, 2B, R
- LF Kevin Kendall 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, R
The St. Lucie offense broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with three runs and added three more in the eighth inning.
Kendall has played in only four games this season, but has already played in three different positions (SS, CF, LF). The 2021 draft pick missed most of the season with a wrist injury.
- RHP Blade Tidwell 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
- LHP Javier Atencio 2.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 BB, 3 K
- RHP Raimon Gomez 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
Tidwell, one of the Mets second round picks this year, was brilliant in only his sixth pro appearance. Tidwell has now gone three straight starts without allowing a run and has 13 strikeouts compared to two walks in that span. On Tuesday night, he was up to 98 mph with his fastball.
Atencio’s best pitch on the night was his changeup with six whiffs on eight swings and another five called strikes with the pitch. The 20-year-old had a 2.27 ERA in 39 2/3 innings for St. Lucie during the regular season.
Gomez was electric to close the game out with his fastball getting up to 100 mph.
St. Lucie will host Palm Beach on Thursday with a chance to get a spot in the Florida State League finals with a win.
