Ronny Mauricio. Photo by James Farrance
Triple-A
Game 1
Syracuse Mets (32-40) 6, Durham Bulls (39-34) 4 (9 Innings)
- DH Jaylin Davis: 2-for-3, R, HR (9), 2 RBIs (40), HBP (.808 OPS)
- LF Carlos Cortes: 1-for-2, R, HR (6), 2 RBIs (23), BB (.788 OPS)
- CF Rafael Ortega: 1-for-4, R, HR (1), RBI (5), BB (1.127 OPS)
- 3B Mark Vientos: 1-for-5, R, HR (15), RBI (40), 2 K (1.102 OPS)
- SS Ronny Mauricio: 0-for-4, BB, K (.873 OPS)
In Game 1, the Mets scored five of their six runs with the help of the long ball. Ortega got the scoring started by hitting a solo home run, his first as a member of the Mets’ organization. Later, in the top of the third, Vientos crushed a solo shot to left center in a ball that still might be traveling out of Durham.
After a Cortes home run tied the game in the fifth, Davis put the Mets ahead for good in the ninth (extra innings) with a two-run home run.
- LHP José Butto (6.15 ERA): 5 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K (54 of 94 pitches for strikes)
- LHP T.J. McFarland (2.76): 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 5 K
- LHP Nate Lavender (2-1, 2.45): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, 2 K
- RHP Jimmy Yacabonis (5.63, 1st save): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K
The damage against Butto in Game 1 came via the home run as he allowed two-run home runs in the third and fourth innings. In addition, the Bulls were able to steal three bases against him. He has allowed at least one home run in four of his last five starts.
McFarland came in after Butto and tallied a season-high five strikeouts. Lavender picked up the win with a scoreless eighth and he has not allowed an earned run in six June appearances.
Game 2
Syracuse Mets (33-40) 9, Durham Bulls (39-35) 4
- CF Jaylin Davis: 2-for-4, R, HR (10), 2 RBIs (42), 2 K
- 2B Luke Ritter: 1-for-2, 2 R, HR (4), RBI (9), BB (.731 OPS)
- LF Ronny Mauricio: 2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBIs (43)
- 1B Mark Vientos: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs (42)
- DH Luke Voit: 1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI (18), K (1.050 OPS)
- SS Jonathan Araúz: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI (37), BB (.775 OPS)
The Mets were facing a 3-0 deficit after the first inning of Game 2, but the offense ended up getting six runs in the top of the third. Ritter kicked off the action with a solo home run (18th of the year in the Mets’ organization). Later in the inning, a Mauricio double and a Vientos sacrifice fly tied the game at three. Then, Voit put them ahead with an RBI double.
Davis ended up putting the bow on the inning with his second home run of the doubleheader.
- RHP Alex Valverde (2-2, 7.88): 5 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K (43 of 74 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Stephen Ridings (6.75): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, K
- RHP Dedniel Nuñez (4.58): 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 H
Even though Valverde allowed home runs to two of the first five batters he faced, he was able to settle in and only allow two more hits over the final four innings of his outing. Ridings bounced back after a rough outing on Wednesday with a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
Brandon Mcllwain. (Photo via Brooklyn Cyclones)
Double-A
Akron RubberDucks (34-34) 4, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (35-33) 3 (11 Innings)
- RF Brandon Mcllwain: 1-for-5, R, HR (7), 2 RBIs (38), K (.753 OPS)
- 3B Jose Peroza: 1-for-5, R, RBI (39), 3 K (.907 OPS)
- SS Branden Fryman: 2-for-3, R, BB, SB (.528 OPS)
- CF Rowdey Jordan: 1-for-5, R (.777 OPS)
The Rumble Ponies were down to their final two outs against Akron until Mcllwain tied the game with a solo home run. The 25-year-old has hit five of his seven home runs in the month of June. Jordan picked up another hit and he has at least one hit in six of his last seven games.
- RHP Jose Chacin (5.24): 3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 5 K (27 of 36 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Nolan Clenney (3.80): 3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 K
- RHP Marcel Rentería (1-1, 3.55): 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 K, HBP
Chacin got the start and ended up retiring all nine batters that he faced. Out of the bullpen, Clenney was able to help get the game to extra innings with a strong outing of his own. He has struck out three batters in each of his last two outings and has not allowed an earned run in six straight appearances. Rentería ended up allowing the walk-off single that won the game for Akron in the 11th.
Kevin Parada, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
High-A
Brooklyn Cyclones (30-37) 2, Hudson Valley Renegades (39-29) 0
- C Kevin Parada: 1-for-4, R, 3B, RBI (27), 2 K (.794 OPS)
- DH Chase Estep: 1-for-3, 2B, K (.616 OPS)
- RF Abraham Almonte: 0-for-1, RBI (3), BB
- SS Junior Tilien: 1-for-3, 2B, K (.357 OPS)
- CF Alex Ramírez: 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 K (.705 OPS)
Brooklyn scored the only two runs of the game in the bottom of the first. After Ramírez led off with a walk, Parada picked up his third triple of the year to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead as he continues his strong hitting over the last seven games.
Parada came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Almonte as he continued his rehab assignment. Tilien had the other extra-base hit with a double and he made a great play in the ninth to help preserve the shutout.
- RHP Joshua Cornielly (3.86): 3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K (34 of 53 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Dylan Tebrake (1-1, 2.05): 2 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K
- LHP Eli Ankeney (0.96): 1 2/3 IP. 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K
- RHP Wilkin Ramos (1.54, 1st save): 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K
Four Cyclones’ pitchers combined to strike out 12 Renegades in the four-hit shutout. Corneilly got his first start of the year and ended up having his third outing of five or more strikeouts this year. As for the relievers, Ankeney has thrown the ball this month with the Cyclones (one earned run allowed in five outings).
Low-A
The St. Lucie Mets (25-41) had their game against the Jupiter Hammerheads (35-32) postponed due to rain. They will makeup the game as part of a doubleheader on Sunday with Game 1 beginning at noon.
Jesus Baez. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Florida Complex League
FCL Mets (9-6) 8, FCL Cardinals (5-8) 2
- SS Jesus Báez: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI (4), K (.603 OPS)
- RF Willy Fañas: 1-for-4, R, HR (2), 3 RBIs (10) (.673 OPS)
- CF Simón Juan: 3-for-4, 2B, RBI (4) (.657 OPS)
- 3B Yonatan Henriquez: 0-for-3, R, 2 RBIs (9) (.606 OPS)
- LF/CF Yohairo Cuevas: 2-for-5, 2B, K (1.106 OPS)
- C Christopher Suero: 2-for-2, R, 2 BB (1.190 OPS)
The FCL Mets ended up scoring seven of their eight runs in the first two innings to pull away in the contest. After a one-out walk by Henrqiuez and a single by Baez, Fanas hit a three-run home run to get the scoring underway. He has driven in eight runs in his last five games.
One inning later, the Mets scored four runs with two of them coming on a Baez double and a Juan single. The three hits by Baez and Juan are both season-highs.
- RHP Jorge Rodriguez (4.50): 4 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 4 K, WP, HBP
- LHP Gregori Louis (2-0, 1.13): 3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Rodriguez ended up having his longest outing of the season in his first start of the year. He has struck out at least four hitters in each of those outings. Lous came in after Rodriguez and got the win in relief as he halso had his longest outing of the year (five appearances).
Dominican Summer League
DSL Yankees (11-3) 5, DSL Mets Orange (6-9) 3
- 1B Julio Zayas: 1-for-2, R, 2B, RBI (14), BB (1.022 OPS)
- C Arnaldo Montano: 1-for-3, K (.944 OPS)
- 2B Keiver Garcia: 1-for-3, R, K, HBP, SB (.669 OPS)
- SS Cristopher Larez: 0-for-3, BB (.868 OPS)
The only run driven in by the orange squd came in the top of the first when Zayas picked up an RBI double. The 17-year-old has seven doubles this year (tied for the most on the team). Garcia picked up another hit as he has a hit in five of his last six games.
- RHP Jose Chirinos (1.29): 2 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, BB, 6 K
- LHP Osiris Calvo (1-1, 3.65): 1 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 WP
Chirinos was the starting pitcher and the 18-year-old has struck out five or more batters in three of his four starts. His 20 strikeouts are tied for the fourth most in the DSL.
DSL Pirates Gold (10-5) 6, DSL Mets Blue (7-7) 1
- LF Justin Ramirez: 2-for-2, R, 2B, 3B, BB (.762 OPS)
The only two hits by the blue squiad came from Ramirez. Ramirez scored the only run on an RBI groundout by Reniel Diaz in the seventh. The 18-year-old has had four multi-hit games this year.
- RHP Lucas Gordillo (1-1, 1.74): 3 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K , WP
- RHP Alejandro Ramirez (5.19): 1 IP, 1 R, 0 H, BB, 3 K
Even though Gordillo took the loss, the 20-year-old had a career-high nine strikeouts. Like Chirinos, he has 20 strikeouts this year. The Pirates were able to get a run against him due to a walk, two stolen bases, and an RBI ground out.
