Mets Minors Recap: Vientos Homers Twice, Raises OPS to .889 For Season

Mark Vientos, Photo by Peter McClelland

Game 1: Buffalo Bison 8 (24-18), Syracuse Mets 5 (11-32) Box Score

CF Brandon Nimmo 1 for 3, R, .200/.333/.200l
RF Khalil Lee 2 for 3, HR, 3 R, RBI, BB, .266/.437/.430

The Mets collected eight hits today to go with five runs in their game one loss to the Bison today. Khalil Lee put together a good day at the plate as he proceeded to hit his second home run of the season raising his average to .266 on the season. Blankenhorn, who has been on fire ever since being sent down to Syracuse, was scratched from the lineup in the bottom of the first. Nimmo collected his second hit of his rehab stint as he singled to left. Brandon is set to return to the New York Mets as early as Monday of next week. Nimmo will sit game two and Lee will move to CF.

LHP Thomas Szapucki (L, 0-3) 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 4.41 ERA

The Mets 10th ranked prospect threw five innings today as he threw four innings of one run ball until the Bison got to him in the fifth. Dilson Herrera, an old friend of the Mets, hit a three run homer off of Trey Cobb in the top of the 6th and which broke the game open for the most part.

Game 2: Buffalo Bison 5 (25-18), Syracuse Mets 4 (11-33) Box Score

CF Khalil Lee 0 for 2, 2 BB, SO, .259/.439/.420
SS Wilfredo Tovar 2 for 3, HR, 2B, R, RBI, .205/.302/.265

The Mets lost both games in their double header tonight as they fall 5-4. Syracuse was without Brandon Nimmo in game two of their double header today and Khalil Lee took charge in center field. Lee had a nice outfield assist as he made a strong throw to get the runner out trying to get to third base. Tovar got into the action today as he collected two XBH, one being his first home run of the year. Syracuse struggled tonight with RISP as they went 1-10. They started off hot as they put together four runs in the first two innings and went silent after that.

RHP Vance Worley 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 5.79 ERA

Newly acquired Met Worley had his first start today in the second game of the double header. Vance pitched okay today, but struggled with control surrendering four walks over 4.2 innings. Vance started off hot as he got through two scoreless until the Bison got to him in the third when they added one and proceeded to get two more in the fourth and fifth until he was pulled.

Reading Fightin Phils 10 (17-28), Binghamton Rumble Ponies 9 (13-30) Box Score

3B Mark Vientos 2 for 4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, SO, .254/.320/.560
C Hayden Senger 2 for 6, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R, SO, .317/.385/.548

Binghamton lost a close one in extras today, but the story of the game was Mark Vientos. Vientos, the Mets number eight prospect continues to absolutely mash as he has five homers in his last four games. He has not just been hitting pull side homers as well, he is using all parts of the field as he is displaying his raw power. Vientos now has 11 home runs on the year which is the most in the Mets system and got his OPS up to .892 on the year. In Vientos last 18 games he has strung together a slash line of, .324/.403/.750, which is showing his improvement after a slow start. He is seeing the ball so well tonight and it is very encouraging to see him string together a power surge like this. Senger collected two XBH tonight as he continues to hit the ball well this season. Binghamton collected 13 hits tonight, but failed to get the run in on third tonight with one out in the top of the 10th in the tough loss to the Phils in 11. There was a plethora of errors tonight as well as the Rumble Ponies had six total errors in the loss compared to the Phils 0.

RHP Jared Robinson (L, 0-3) 2.1 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 4 K, 5.14 ERA

Jersey Shore BlueClaws 3 (19-25), Brooklyn Cyclones 0 (14-28) Box Score

SS Ronny Mauricio 0 for 4, .245/.286/.453
3B Brett Baty 1 for 4, 2B, 2 SO, .314/.417/.526

The Cyclones lost tonight by the score of 3-0. Baty got the Cyclones first hit in the bottom of 7th as he doubled. While the bats were cooled down tonight, Baty continues to hit the ball well as he picked up another XBH. Alvarez did not pay tonight as he got taken out of the game last night due to being hit by a foul tip. Alvarez took batting practice before the game and is expected to be back in action this weekend. Mauricio made a phenomenal play tonight in the top of the 5th as he bare handed a slow roller at short and fired to first for the out to help limit the damage.

RHP Conner O’Neil 3 IP, H, 2 BB, K, 0.00 ERA
RHP Jose Butto (L, 1-3) 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, ER, BB, 5 K, 4.75 ERA

The Cyclones 2017 7th round draft pick O’Neil threw very well today as he has yet to allow a run this season. O’Neil has only thrown five innings in two games, but has looked very encouraging in both of those outings. The Mets 23 year old starter Butto took the loss tonight as he fell into some bad luck into the top of the fifth only allowing one earned run. Butto had a throwing error in the top of the fifth with only one out, which led to another error as there was catchers interference. Butto got taken out with the bases loaded as Cobb came in and walked a batter to force in another run.

Game 1: Dunedin Blue Jays 12 (18-24), St. Lucie Mets 11 (23-20) Box Score

CF Alex Ramirez 2 for 5, R, SO, .230/.305/.338
2B Jose Peroza 2 for 5, GS, 4 RBI, R, .258/.423/.425
DH Jaylen Palmer 2 for 5, SO, .236/.359/.300

The Mets finished off game one of their “double header” today as they resumed play in the bottom of the sixth with one out. The bats were hot as the Mets picked up 16 total hits in game one and put across 11 runs. When play resumed the bats cooled off and the Blue Jays scored two in the 7th and proceeded to take game one in a high scoring affair. Jose Peroza continues to hit the ball well as he had a grand slam early on in the second inning. The Mets 18 year old number nine prospect Ramirez hit the ball well tonight as he picked up a pair of hits himself. Warren Saunders played terrific in game one as he picked up three hits of his own including a triple.

LHP Brailin Gonzalez (L, 0-1) (BS, 2) IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 4.00 ERA

Game 2: Dunedin Blue Jays 16 (19-24), St. Lucie Mets 7 (23-21) Box Score

1B Jose Peroza 2 for 3, 2B, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, .258/.423/.425
CF Alex Ramirez 0 for 5, BB, SO, .230/.305/.338
SS Branden Fryman 2 for 6, 2B, R, RBI, SO, .242/.318/.323

St. Lucie came out strong with the bats as they put up a five spot in the bottom of the third. The Mets had another double digit hit game as they collected 12 hits across nine innings. Ramirez struggled this game as he went hitless in the loss, but Jose Peroza continued to hit the ball exceptionally well as he collected another two hit game. Peroza has provided a ton of offense recently and has been very versatile in the infield as well. Fryman had a good game as he picked up a pair of hits as well. Palmer stayed hot as he collected another two hit game and a double with a pair of RBI’s. St. Lucie’s pitching struggled today as the Blue Jays bats were hot and proceeded to put up 16 runs and 18 total on the day in 10 innings.