Photo by Rick Nelson
AAA: Toledo Mud Hens (17-9) 12, Syracuse Mets (14-13) 2 Box Score
- Mark Vientos 3B: 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI, K, .367/.449/.733
- Danny Mendick LF: 1-for-4, BB, .281/.389/.396
- Ronny Mauricio DH: 1-for-5, 2 K, .321/.363/.585
The Mets had just six hits in this game and did not take advantage of the opportunities to score that they had as they went just 1-for-9 over the course of the game. Their first run was scored on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning, but they were already down by eleven runs at that point in the game. Vientos added an extra run in the eighth inning with his eighth home run of the season. With that home run, Vientos is now tied for sixth in the International League in home runs and his 1.182 OPS ranks third in the league.
Mark Vientos went 1-for-4 with a HR this afternoon for Syracuse. That’s his 8th of the season.
107.5 mph off the bat.
Vientos has 12 XBHs over his last 13 games. @Metsmerized #Mets
— Mathew Brownstein (@MBrownstein89) April 30, 2023
- RHP Tony Dibrell (L, 1-2, 9.97 ERA) 3.1 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
- LHP Josh Walker (1-0, 1.04 ERA) 1.1 IP, H, 2 K
- RHP Dedniel Núñez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 1.0 IP, 2 H
Dibrell struggled mightily yet again in Sunday’s start. His control was especially poor, as he threw less than half of his pitches for strikes (37 of 77) and set a new career high with six walks in a single outing. Dibrell has given up five or more runs in half of his appearances this season. Walker has been a major bright spot pitching out of the bullpen full time for the first time in his career. He has given up just one earned run in 8 2/3 innings pitched and he has also maintained his bump in strikeout rate from last season: he has a 13.5 K/9 early in the new season.
AA: Akron Rubberducks (9-11) vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (10-9)
Binghamton’s game against the Rubberducks on Sunday was postponed due to inclement weather. The date for the make-up game has not been announced yet.
A+: Brooklyn Cyclones (6-11) vs. Jersey Shore BlueClaws (8-9)
The Cyclones were supposed to have a doubleheader against the BlueClaws on Sunday after the prior two games of the series were rained out but the game was rained out for a third straight day instead. One game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on May 31. The other game will be made up on a to be announced date.
A: Clearwater Threshers (15-6) 9, St. Lucie Mets (5-16) 5 Box Score
- Blaine McIntosh LF: 1-for-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 K, SB, .211/.318./421
- Junior Tilien 2B: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 3 K .261/.350/.449
- Kevin Villavicencio SS: 2-for-3, RBI, BB, .231/.324/.292, E
The Mets got off to a quick start offensively in Sunday’s game by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. They would fall behind in the bottom half of the inning, however, and never reclaim the lead for the remainder of the game. Tilien added two runs in the top of the fifth inning with his second home run of the season, a 371-foot blast that left his bat at 100.1 MPH. Tim Locastro was hitless in three at bats and played seven innings in center field in the first game of his rehab stint with St. Lucie.
- RHP Douglas Orellana (L, 0-1, 2.77 ERA) 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, BB, K
- RHP Layonel Ovalles (1-1, 3.95 ERA) 3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB
- RHP Miguel Alfonseca (0-0, 4.50 ERA) 2.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 K
Orellana struggled in his start on Sunday, lasting just one inning after throwing 33 pitches and allowing four runs, but he was not helped out by his defense. Two errors in the first inning led to two of the runs allowed being unearned. Orellana averaged 94.1 MPH on his fastball and topped out at 95.7 MPH. His curveball had an impressive 2754 RPM average spin rate. Ovalles had similar struggles in his first relief appearance of the season. He struggled to miss bats, having just a 19% whiff rate on all his pitches and striking out nobody over 3 2/3 innings. He did have a strong spin rate of nearly 2500 RPM on both his cutter and 4-seam fastball. Alfonseca had an impressive 44% whiff rate over his two innings of work.
