The FCL Mets may have come up short in their semifinal game on Thursday, but Mets fans got a glimpse of the future with an incredible performance from Jett Williams, who reached base in all five of his plate appearances. Eduardo Escobar played shortstop in his rehab appearance with Brooklyn, perhaps hinting at what his role will be with the Mets when he returns from his oblique injury.
Joey Lucchesi made his second rehab start, a scoreless inning with two strikeouts for the St. Lucie Mets.
Also of note, Mets 2022 first rounder Kevin Parada has officially been added to the St. Lucie Mets roster and is expected to play on Friday night.
AAA: Worcester Red Sox (61-59) 9, Syracuse Mets (51-69) 1 Box Score
- 3B Mark Vientos: 1-for-4, 2 SO, .293/.368/.549
- 1B Dominic Smith: 0-for-3, BB, 2 SO, .280/.370/.449
- C Nick Dini: 1-for-4, RBI, SO, .211/.313/.373
The Mets scratched across just one run in a losing effort, courtesy of an RBI single from Nick Dini in the ninth inning. All four of the team’s hits were singles. Even the blazing hot Mark Vientos was held in check; he collected just one hit and struck out twice.
Francisco Alvarez had the night off, he is a little banged up right now, though it’s nothing serious.
- RHP Harol González: (L, 0-2), 4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, K, 21.94 ERA
- LHP Sam Clay: 2.0 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, K, 3.66 ERA
- RHP Bryce Montes de Oca: IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, 3 K, 3.10 ERA
Here's Mets relief prospect Bryce Montes de Oca throwing gas by big-time Red Sox prospect Triston Casas.
Montes de Oca struck out 3 in the scoreless inning and was his normal 98-100 mph.
He's struck out 38 of the last 80 batters he's faced. pic.twitter.com/oLrDf2nUzl
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) August 26, 2022
Harol González has made two starts for Syracuse this season in his return from Tommy John surgery and has gotten roughed up in both of them. He has allowed 13 earned runs in just 5 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level. Sam Clay and Bryce Montes de Oca did a brilliant job in relief, with Clay going two scoreless innings and Montes de Oca striking out three in a hitless inning of work. Opponents have a .509 OPS vs Montes de Oca in August.
AA: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (45-71) 7, Reading Fightin Phils (53-64) 3 Box Score
- SS Ronny Mauricio: 2-for-5, R, SB, .255/.288/.472
- 3B Luke Ritter: 2-for-4, HR (11), 4 RBI, 2 R, SB, SO, .220/.327/.400
- LF Brandon McIlwain: 1-for-4, HR (4), SO, .221/.291/.353
The Rumble Ponies have won three of their last four games, and they’ve done it by way of their offense, scoring at least six runs in each of those wins. Luke Ritter had himself a night, collecting four RBI by way of a two-run homer and a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning. Brandon McIlwain hit a solo homer, and Ronny Mauricio chipped in with two hits and a stolen base.
- RHP David Griffin: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 5.40 ERA
- RHP Hunter Parsons: 3.0 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 5 K, 5.18 ERA
- RHP Dedniel Núñez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 4.57 ERA
David Griffin got the start and allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings, departing in the fifth inning with the game tied at 3-3. Hunter Parsons took over from there, firing off three sparkling innings of one-hit ball to pick up his first win at the Double-A level. Dedniel Núñez walked two batters in the ninth inning but got the final four outs of the game to finish out the win.
A+: Brooklyn Cyclones (59-58) 8, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (44-73) 5 Box Score
- CF Alex Ramirez: 3-for-5, 2 2B, R, .268/.315/.435
- 2B Shervyen Newton: 2-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 SO, .191/.290/.327
- 1B JT Schwartz: 2-for-5, HR (5), 2 SO, .261/.350/.387
- SS Eduardo Escobar: 2-for-4, RBI, R
It was hits galore for the Cyclones, who combined for 14 hits and eight extra-base hits in the victory. Alex Ramirez had a three-hit day with two doubles and a run scored, while Shervyen Newton and JT Schwartz both launched home runs. Newton has homered in three straight games.
Eduardo Escobar made a rehab appearance as he works his way back from an oblique injury, starting at shortstop and collecting two hits. There is talk that Escobar may take up a role as the backup shortstop once he returns to the Mets, which would keep Brett Baty in the everyday lineup for the big-league club.
- RHP Christian Scott: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 4.35 ERA
- RHP Franklin Sanchez: (W, 1-0), 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, K, 7.71 ERA
- RHP Nolan Clenney: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 5.37 ERA
Christian Scott had a rocky start, allowing six baserunners and giving up three runs in just 3 2/3 innings of work. Franklin Sanchez was slightly better in his 2 1/3 innings and ultimately walked away with the win, his first for Brooklyn. Nolan Clenney recorded a three-inning save, striking out four batters for his first save of the season.
A: Palm Beach Cardinals (58-57) 11, St. Lucie Mets (67-49) 5 Box Score
- CF Omar De Los Santos: 2-for-4, RBI, SB, BB, SO, .266/.333/.447
- 2B D’Andre Smith: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, .455/.538/.727
- 3B Justin Guerrera: 1-for-3, HR (11), BB, SO, .202/.321/.364
The Mets scored one run in each of the first five innings of this one, but they trailed 9-5 at that point and failed to score the rest of the game. Omar De Los Santos had two hits and a stolen base, bringing his tally to an absurd 66 steals on the season. 2022 fifth-round pick D’Andre Smith has enjoyed his time with St. Lucie, going 5-for-11 with five runs scored in his first three games for the team.
- LHP Joey Lucchesi: IP, H, 0 ER, 2 K
- RHP Benito García: (L, 2-3), 2.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R (5 ER), 5 K, 6.10 ERA
- RHP Layonel Ovalles: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 K, 8.44 ERA
Joey Lucchesi has pitched two scoreless innings across his two rehab starts for St. Lucie as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Benito García ended up taking the loss, allowing six runs across 2 2/3 innings of work. Layonel Ovalles gave the Mets some much-needed longevity out of the pen, powering through the final four innings of the game while allowing two runs and striking out five.
Complex League: FCL Mets (0-1) 4, FCL Rays (1-0) 7 Box Score
- SS Jett Williams: 3-for-3, SB, R, 2 BB
- CF Nick Morabito: 2-for-4, 2B, R, BB, 2 SO
- 3B Jacob Reimer: 0-for-4, R, BB, 3 SO
- C Vincent Perozo: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, SO
Two line drive singles for Mets 2022 1st rounder Jett Williams through 4.5 innings here in Port Charlotte (Florida Complex League 1-game semifinal at Rays). pic.twitter.com/xduOX3HR4j
— Matt Collier (@reillocity) August 25, 2022
The Mets lost this winner-takes-all semifinal game, collapsing in the late innings after maintaining a lead through most of the game. 2022 first-round pick Jett Williams was electric at the plate as he has been throughout his brief stint on the FCL Mets roster, collecting three hits and a stolen base while also scoring a run. 2022 second-round pick Nick Morabito was impressive as well, collecting two hits including a double and scoring a run.
- RHP Robert Colina: 3.1 IP, 0 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- RHP Christopher Vasquez: (L, 0-1), IP, 3 H, 3 R (0 ER), BB, K