Mets Minors Recap: Simon Juan Helps Spark FCL Comeback
Overall, Wednesday was a winning day in the Mets organization as the five affiliates combined to go 4-1. Binghamton got a grand slam as their only runs, but it led them to a win. The FCL Mets were down 4-0 early, but found a way to earn a comeback win, and a St. Lucie infielder put himself in the double-digit column in terms of home runs on the season. Find out more about the day’s action below.
Simón Juan. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Triple-A
Syracuse Mets (44-26) 8, Rochester Red Wings (36-33) 2
- 3B Brett Baty: 1-for-4, R, HR (4), 2 RBIs (13), BB, K (1.188 OPS)
- 2B Rylan Bannon: 2-for-5, R, 2B, 2 RBIs (49), K (.883 OPS)
- SS Luisangel Acuña: 1-for-2, R, RBI (23), 2 BB, SB (.686 OPS)
- RF Ben Gamel: 2-for-5, RBI (24), K (.962 OPS)
- 1B Mike Brosseau: 1-for-4, R, HR (8), RBI (22) (.879 OPS)
In Wednesday night’s win, Syracuse got at least one hit from seven of the nine hitters in their starting lineup. Acuña had an RBI single in the bottom of the second to extend his hit streak to seven games. Baty continues to swing the bat well since being sent down to Triple-A. His two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth gave him a hit in nine of the last 11 games he has played in Syracuse.
- RHP Mike Vasil (6.75 ERA): 5 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, BB, 3 K (58 of 88 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Yacksel Ríos (3-1, 2.76): 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K (15 of 20 pitches for strikes)
- LHP Josh Walker (1.77): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, 2 K (10 of 20 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Cole Sulser (2,11): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB (11 of 23 pitches for strikes)
Vasil got off to a rough start as he allowed a pair of runs in the third inning, including the first home run of the Triple-A career of Dylan Crews. However, the 24-year-old right-hander was able to go five innings in an outing for the first time since May 30. The Syracuse bullpen combined to not allowed a single hit over the final four innings as the Mets offense was able to break the game open.
Double-A
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (33-30) 4, Akron Rubberducks (35-30) 1
- 3B Rowdey Jordan: 3-for-5, R, HR (6), 4 RBIs (28), SB, 2 K (.744 OPS)
- SS Jeremiah Jackson: 1-for-5, 2B, 2 K (.624 OPS)
- 1B JT Schwartz: 1-for-4, 2B, BB (.783 OPS)
- CF Alex Ramírez: 1-for-2, 3 BB, SB (.675 OPS)
The Rumble Ponies offense was stifled for the first six innings, but Jordan found a way to get the big hit with a grand slam in the top of the seventh. Jordan has homered in back-to-back games and has seven RBIs over the last three games.
https://twitter.com/RumblePoniesBB/status/1803586921202856008
- RHP Joander Suarez (4-4, 4.39): 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 5 K (64 of 94 pitches for strikes)
- LHP Daniel Juarez (4.50): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K (11 of 16 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Paul Gervase (3.86, 4th save): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K (10 of 13 pitches for strikes)
Suarez was able to go deep into his start on Wednesday as he only allowed one extra-base hit and the only run that Akron scored came on a caught stealing in the bottom of the first. The 24-year-old right-hander had his longest outing of the season and he has pitched into the seventh inning in two of his last three starts. Gervase picked up the save and he has 11 strikeouts to 2 walks over his last four relief appearances (5.1 innings).
High-A
Jersey Shore BlueClaws (38-27) 2, Brooklyn Cyclones (32-33) 0
- 1B Christopher Suero: 1-for-4, 3 K (.741 OPS)
- DH Nick Lorusso: 1-for-4 (.831 OPS)
- CF Stanley Consuegra: 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB (.746 OPS)
- LF Karell Paz: 1-for-4, 2 K (.554 OPS)
As a team, the Cyclones ended up going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, had only one extra-base hit, and they struck out 12 times against three Jersey Shore pitchers. That lone extra-base hit came on a double by Paz in the bottom of the seventh.
- RHP Jonathan Pintaro (0-2, 3.60): 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K (52 of 78 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Henry Henry (0.00): 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K (14 of 18 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Justin Lawson (3.82): 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H (15 of 23 pitches for strikes)
Although Pintaro has lost both of his starts since signing with the Mets organization, the 26-year-old was able to have his first quality start. Jersey Shore scored its only runs of the game on a two-run single in the top of the fourth. Henry came in after Pintaro for his first relief appearance with the Cyclones and the 25-year-old struck out two of the four batters he faced.
Low-A
St. Lucie Mets (22-43) 7, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (30-34) 3
- LF Willy Fañas: 2-for-5, 3 RBIs (8), SB, 2 K (.645 OPS)
- SS Jesus Baez: 1-for-4, R, HR (10), RBI (38), BB (.793 OPS)
- 2B Kevin Villavicencio: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B, RBI (11), K (.668 OPS)
- DH Ronald Hernandez: 1-for-4, RBI (11), SB, K (.761 OPS)
- SS Colin Houck: 0-for-4, 3 K (.620 OPS)
St. Lucie was down 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but they scored three runs and never gave the lead back from there in that inning. Fañas hit a two-run single to give them a 2-1 lead. He added another run with a base hit in the eighth. The 20-year-old drove in a run in a game for the first time since June 9.
Big hit Willy Fanas! He delivers a 2-run single to give us a 2-1 lead in the 5th! pic.twitter.com/wq7kvz0N8a
— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) June 19, 2024
Baez was able to hit the double-digit mark in home runs with a solo shot in the seventh. The 19-year-old has homered in back-to-back games and has four home runs in the month of June. As for Villavicencio, he had his second three-hit game of the month (June 1).
- LHP Franklin Gomez (2-4, 3.95): 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, BB, 4 K (61 of 86 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Eduardo Herrera (0.00): 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, BB, K (13 of 27 pitches for strikes)
- RHP Nick Bautista III (7.94): 1 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K (15 of 27 pitches for strikes)
Aside from allowing one extra-base hit, Gomez had one of his better starts of the season. The 18-year-old southpaw had his longest outing of the year and he has now allowed two runs or fewer in four straight starts.
Florida Complex League
FCL Mets (15-16) 9, FCL Cardinals (12-19) 8
- CF Simón Juan: 2-for-4, R, HR (7), 4 RBIs (22), K (.901 OPS)
- RF Fabián Machado: 3-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBIs (11), BB, K (.745 OPS)
- DH Julio Zayas: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, K (.851 OPS)
- SS Jeremy Rodriguez: 1-for-5, 2 R, SB, K (.771 OPS)
- 2B Yonatan Henriquez: 1-for-3, R, 2 SB, BB, K (.716 OPS)
The Mets offense found themselves in a 4-0 hole before they ever came to the plate, but they found a way to work a comeback. Juan helped lead the charge. He had an RBI single in the first to start the scoring, a two-run home run in the fourth (put them up 5-4), and a game-tying sacrifice fly in the sixth. The 18-year-old has three home runs in the last two games.
- RHP Luis Alvarez (13.50): 0 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 0 H, 4 BB
- RHP Layonel Ovalles (0.00): 3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K
- RHP Christian Rodriguez (6.30): 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K
- LHP Brayhans Barreto (2-0, 3.13): 2.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Despite Alvarez not being able to get a single out, the pitching staff was able to do enough to keep the offense in the game. Ovalles continues to throw the ball well as he has five hitless innings in two outings since going down to the Complex League (7 strikeouts, 1 walk). Rodriguez struck out six batters for the third outing this year. The 19-year-old has 25 strikeouts in eight outings on the season.
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