Mets Minors Recap: Lucchesi Hurls A Gem, Quintana Makes Rehab Start
TRIPLE- A
Syracuse Mets (25-38) 6, Buffalo Bisons (29-35) 0
- DH Luke Voit 1-for-5, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI (10), .915 OPS
- RF DJ Stewart 2-for-5, R, RBI (30), .911 OPS
- CF Jaylin Davis 1-for-4, 2 RBI (36), .761 OPS
The Syracuse Mets shut out the Buffalo Bisons 6-0 Tuesday thanks to a strong starting pitching performance and a four-run first inning.
The Mets jumped all over Bison’s starter Kyle Johnston in the first inning. Former Yankee Luke Voit, who the Mets signed on Monday to a minor-league contract, was making his organizational debut and batting third for Syracuse. With runners on second and third base, Voit’s RBI ground out plated the Mets’ first run of the contest. DJ Stewart followed with a base knock, and first baseman Tyler White belted a double into left field, driving in another run. Outfielder Jaylin Davis capped off the inning with a two-run single. The 28-year-old Davis was in a mini-slump of 1-for-22 in his last seven games.
Voit collected his first hit and second RBI in the fifth inning when he hit a lazy fly ball into right field, and the Bison’s right fielder lost the ball in the lights allowing the runner Danny Mendick to score from second base and giving Voit a triple.
Right fielder Stewart tacked on another run for Syracuse with a line drive base hit to drive in Voit and extend the lead to 6-0. The 29-year-old is hitting .379 with four homers, nine runs batted in, and a 1.334 OPS in June.
- LHP Joey Lucchesi (W, 5-1) 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 2.33 ERA
- LHP Nate Lavender 1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3.00 ERA
Lefty hurler Joey Lucchesi tossed a gem Tuesday night against the Bisons. Lucchesi pitched 6.2 scoreless innings and only permitted two hits on the night. The 30-year-old fanned six batters and issued zero walks. He threw 56 of his 90 pitches for strikes, lowering his season ERA to 2.33 with a 5-1 record in eight starts for Syracuse.
Joey Fuego. Scalding hot in Buffalo tonight.
6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K pic.twitter.com/UR4EDT8Y1B
— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) June 14, 2023
Southpaw Nathan Lavender also had another solid outing. He threw a scoreless inning and struck out two. The 23-year-old boasts a 13.5 K/9 in 12 innings for Syracuse.
DOUBLE-A
Portland Sea Dogs (36-22) 9, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (28-29) 1
- CF Matt Rudick 2-for-3, BB, HBP, .966 OPS
- 3B José Peroza 2-for-4, R, HR (9), RBI (33), .953 OPS
- 1B Joe Suozzi 1-for-4, .753 OPS
The Portland Sea Dogs won comfortably in a 9-1 rout over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies Tuesday night at Mirabito Stadium.
Binghamton’s offense managed ten hits on the night but went 0-for-8 with runners in the scoring position.
Third baseman José Peroza drove in the Ponies’ lone run in Tuesday night’s loss. Down 7-0 in the sixth inning, Peroza led off the frame and crushed a solo home run to left field. The 22-year-old collected a second base knock in the eighth inning, finishing 2-for-4 in the contest. Peroza is 8-for-20 with three doubles, three home runs, and six batted in his last five games.
24-year-old Matt Rudick reached base four times Tuesday night. He finished 2-for-3, drawing a walk, and was plunked by a pitch. He is hitting .303/.449/.517 and a .966 OPS. Rudick’s .449 OBP leads the Eastern League.
- RHP José Chacin (L,1-3) 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, BB, K, 5.61 ERA
- LHP Daniel Juarez 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 2.31 ERA
Right-hander José Chacin started Tuesday night and lasted just one inning in the loss. He surrendered four runs on three hits and served up a two-run jack to first baseman Niko Kavadas.
22-year-old Daniel Juarez tossed four innings, permitted two runs on two hits, and punched out five Sea Dogs. The lefty has a combined 2-1 record, a 0.99 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and boasts a 12.3 K/9 between two minor league levels this season.
HIGH-A
Aberdeen IronBirds (29-28) 8, Brooklyn Cyclones (24-33) 7
- CF Omar De Los Santos 1-for-3 2 R, HR (4), RBI (19), HBP, .572 OPS
- 2B D’Andre Smith 2-for-4, R, RBI (1), SB (1), .627 OPS
- 3B Mateo Gil 1-for-4 R, HR (6), 3 RBI (19), SB (1), .758 OPS
The Brooklyn Cyclones lost 8-7 on a walk-off Tuesday night against a formidable Aberdeen IronBirds club. The Cyclones’ pitching staff allowed 14 walks in the contest and gave up five runs in the final three innings.
Brooklyn jumped out to an early lead when Omar De Los Santos blasted his fourth round tripper of the season to left field in the second inning as Brooklyn went up 1-0. The 23-year-old De Los Santos is hitting .273 with two homers and seven runs batted, with a .736 OPS in June but has an 18 to 1 K/BB rate.
In the fourth, Jaylen Palmer hammered a solo shot to deep center field to extend the lead to 2-0. Palmer is hitting a paltry .181 on the season and is 5-for-40 in June.
Heading to the sixth inning, the Cyclones were down 3-2 when they erupted for five runs in the frame. After RBI base knocks from D’Andre Smith and Chase Estep, Mateo Gil stepped up to the plate and clobbered a three-run homer to put Brooklyn up 7-3. The 22-year-old infielder has slashed .282/.333/.538 with a .871 OPS and six extra-base hits in June.
Second baseman Smith was the lone Cyclones hitter to record a multi-hit game.
- RHP Cameron Foster 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 2 K, 5.28 ERA
- RHP Paul Gervase 1 IP 2 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K, 1.40 ERA
- RHP Manny Rodriguez (L, 1-2) 0.1 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 0 K, 4.01 ERA
Righthander Cameron Foster took the mound Tuesday night and struggled with his command against Aberdeen. Foster allowed three runs on three hits and six walks over four-plus innings. The 24-year-old carries a 2-4 record, a 5.28 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, and 8.2 K/9 in 46 innings.
The duo of Manny Rodriguez and Jace Beck failed to hold off Aberdeen in the ninth. Rodriguez struggled in his outing, allowing three walks while only recording one out. Beck entered the frame in relief for Rodriguez and faced highly touted prospect Jackson Holliday in a bases-loaded jam. He yielded the game-tying hit and threw a wild pitch allowing Aberdeen’s walk-off win.
LOW-A
St. Lucie Mets (20-37) 5, Palm Beach Cardinals (34-24) 2
- SS Jett Williams 2-for-4, R, HR (3), 2 RBI (19), SB (19), HBP, .712 OPS
- DH Jacob Reimer 2-for-4, 2 R, HR (3), RBI (21), .761 OPS
- LF Karell Paz 1-for-3, RBI (3), .950 OPS
The Mets started the night with a bang in the first inning when shortstop prospect Jett Williams launched a two-run dinger 387 feet to left field to take a 2-0 lead over the Cardinals. Williams also singled in the second inning, finished the night 2-for-4 with the homer, two runs batted in, and stole his 19th base of the year. The 19-year-old shortstop prospect was hitting a mere .147 (5-for-34) in June entering last night’s contest, so last night was a great way to break out of his slump.
Jett!!! ✈️ ✈️
2-run homer in the 1st gives us an early lead. pic.twitter.com/2dv79zirjs
— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) June 13, 2023
In the third inning, St. Lucie scored two runs to take a 4-0 lead. Left fielder Karell Paz’s line drive base knock drove in Jacob Reimer. Vincent Perozo came home on first baseman Yeral Martinez‘s ground out. The Cuban native Paz continues to rake in the Florida State League. The 23-year-old switch hitter has a slash line .344 (11-for-32) with a .512 OBP in 11 games.
19-year-old Jacob Reimer clobbered his third home run of the season that traveled 435 feet in the fifth inning and extended the Mets’ lead to 5-1. The Mets 4th-round pick from 2022 is off to a sizzling June. He is hitting .372/.471/.558 with one homer, seven RBIs, five doubles, and a 1.029 OPS.
Jacob Reimer just DEMOLISHED this home run 435 feet to left field! 5-1 Mets in the 5th. pic.twitter.com/yqz7po0piJ
— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) June 13, 2023
- LHP José Quintana 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 0 K, 0.00 ERA
- RHP Candido Cuevas (W, 1-1) 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 4.61 ERA
- RHP Jimmy Loper (S, 3) 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K, 3.38 ERA
José Quintana made his first rehab start on Tuesday as he works his way back into the Mets’ starting rotation. Quintana has not pitched this season due to having bone graft surgery on his rib cage in March. The lefty tossed 1.1 innings, yielding two hits and one walk on 26 pitches. He threw 15 of the 26 pitches for a strike and was up to 91 mph on his fastball.
Candido Cuevas followed Quintana and picked up the win in relief Tuesday night against the Cardinals. The 19-year-old hurled 4.2 innings and fanned four batters. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and issued a pair of walks.
The 6-foot-4 righty Jimmy Loper pitched the final three innings and notched his third save of the season. Loper didn’t allow a hit and issued just one free pass. He has a 3.38 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP with 29 strikeouts in 24 innings.
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE
FCL Mets (3-3) 5, FCL Nationals (3-3) 5
BOX SCORE SUSPENDED BOTTOM 7th
On Tuesday, the FCL Mets game against the FCL Nationals was suspended in the bottom of the seventh due to rain. The contest will continue today at 11 am with the score tied 5-5.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE
DSL Mets Blue (4-3) 9, DSL Rangers Blue (1-6) 7
- 3B Daris Cordero 0-for-1, 3 R, RBI (2), 4 BB, .940 OPS
- C Henry Pizani 2-for-4, R, RBI (1), BB, .666 OPS
- DH Branny De Oleo 2-for-3, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI (5), 1.035 OPS
Designated hitter Branny De Oleo had a terrific game Tuesday. for the DSL Mets Blue. He delivered a big hit in the first inning with a bases-clearing two-bagger, providing the Mets an early 4-0 lead. The 18-year-old notched a pair of doubles in the contest and owns a 1.035 OPS.
17-year-old Henry Pizani went 2-for-4 and drew a walk. He also recorded his first multi-hit game and RBI of the season. Pizani’s two-base knock in the third inning drove in Darius Cordero, extending the Mets’ lead to 5-2.
Third baseman Darius Cordero displayed a keen eye at the plate Tuesday as he drew four walks in the contest bringing his total to ten in six games.
- RHP Jhon Nunez 3 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 3.00 ERA
- LHP Luis Sotillo (W, 1-0) 2 IP, H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 11.25 ERA
- RHP Elwis Mijares (S, 1) 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1.29 ERA
19-year-old Jhon Nunez hurled three hitless innings in the start. He permitted two runs (one earned), issued a pair of walks, and fanned two batters.
Right-hander Elwis Mijares notched his first save in three appearances. The 17-year-old Venezuelan native allowed one run on four hits and recorded four punchouts across 3.2 innings.
DSL Mariners (6-1) 5, DSL Mets Orange (4-3) 4
- CF Anthony Baptist 2-for-4, 2 R, 3B RBI (6), SB (1), HBP, .902 OPS
- SS Keiver Garcia 2-for-3, R, RBI (2), SB (3), BB, .680 OPS
- C Julio Zayas 2-for-4, RBI (9), 1.328 OPS
Centerfielder Anthony Baptist, a 2023 International Free Agent signing by the New York Mets, produced one of his best games Tuesday. He reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, was hit by a pitch, and scored a pair of runs. The speedster swiped his first base of the year in the first inning and came around to score on a Daiverson Gutierrez RBI-ground out. Later in the game, the lefty swinger smacked his third triple of the young season, driving in a run in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.
Cather Julios Zayas continued his hot hitting, recording another multi-hit game as he finished 2-for-4 in the contest. Zayas’ RBI base knock in the first inning gave the Mets Orange an early 2-0 lead. The 17-year-old is now up to nine runs batted in and is slashing .435/.458/.870 in his first six games.
Heading into the ninth, the Mets Orange were down 5-4. MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 ranked International Prospect Cristopher Larez came up to bat in a pinch-hitting spot with one out and reached base on a single. The 17-year-old swiped his fourth bag and advanced to third base on a throwing error but was stranded 90 feet as Baptist struck out to end the game. Larez is hitting .455/.538/.818 with one homer, five RBIs, and a 1.356 OPS.
- RHP Jose Chirinos 4 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA
- LHP Arlison Rodriguez (L, 1-1) 1 IP, H, R, 0 BB, 0 K, 3.38 ERA
18-year-old right-hander Jose Chirinos tossed another impressive four innings Tuesday against the DSL Mariners as he recorded seven strikeouts and allowed two hits and an unearned run. Chirinos has a 0.00 ERA and .025 WHIP in two starts, yielding two hits and a 12 to 0 K/BB ratio in eight innings.
Left-hander, Arilson Rodriguez entered the ninth in a 4-4 tie and wound up taking the loss. He promptly gave up the go-ahead run as German Guilarte belted a solo shot on the first pitch thrown by Rodriguez.
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