Minor League Recap

Álvarez homers, but Buffalo outlasts Syracuse

he Syracuse Mets dropped the opener of their six-game series against the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night by a 15-8 final at NBT Bank Stadium. It would prove to be a long night at the ballpark for all involved. The game was delayed by an hour and a half due to weather concerns, followed by a contest that took nearly three and a half hours to complete. The last out of the game was recorded at 11:31 p.m. local time. By the end of the game, the two teams had combined for 23 runs, 27 hits, three errors, and 15 total pitchers.

Once the game finally got going after the delay, Buffalo (70-64) got right to work. The Bisons scored five times in the top of the first to grab a big early lead, highlighted by a two-run double from Rafael Lantigua and a two-run single from Nathan Lukes. Buffalo scored their five runs on four hits plus three walks and sent ten total men to the plate in the frame.

Tylor Megill was making a rehab start for Syracuse (56-80) and was roughed up in the first inning, charged with all five of the runs on three hits plus two walks. Drew Smith, another rehabbing New York Met, came into the game after that and settled the situation down. He did not allow an earned run in an inning of work, surrendering just one hit and one walk while striking out two batters.

In the bottom of the second, the Mets roared right back and tied the game at five. They would send nine men of their own to the plate in the inning, combining five hits with a walk, an RBI groundout, a sacrifice fly, and two errors to notch the five runs that would tie the game. The scoring barrage started with an RBI double from JT Riddle and ended with a solo, moonshot home run from Francisco Álvarez that tied the game, 5-5. Álvarez, widely considered the top prospect in Minor League Baseball, now has seven home runs in 34 Triple-A games.

From there, it was all Bisons, as they unleashed a scoring tidal wave to pull away for good. Buffalo scored the next ten runs in the game, scoring three runs in the fifth, three runs in the sixth, and four final runs in the seventh inning. By the end of the night, they would finish with 15 runs on 14 hits to catapult themselves to a resounding series-opening win.

Syracuse got its final three runs on a three-run home run from Dominic Smith in the bottom of the seventh inning. Smith finished the evening 3-for-4 at the plate, reaching base four total times with another walk in the ninth. Despite the loss, the Mets had plenty of great news to share at the plate. All but one starter reached base at least once. Even the one player who didn’t reach base, Michael Perez, managed to drive in a run via an RBI groundout. Seven different players scored runs. Eight different players had hits, including three individuals with multi-hit games. In addition to Smith’s three-hit night, Jake Mangum went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Álvarez also went 2-for-5, tacking on a single in the ninth inning.

Syracuse continues its final six-game home series of the season against the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday night.

Tuesday’s Rumble Ponies Game Against Hartford Postponed

Tuesday’s game between the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Hartford Yard Goats at Mirabito Stadium has been postponed due to the excessive amount of rain that fell at Mirabito Stadium causing unplayable conditions, as well as in the interest of player safety. The game will be made up at a future date to be determined.

Cyclones Win Game One Over Aberdeen, 8-1

The Cyclones defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds by the score of 8-1 on Tuesday Night in Game One of the South Atlantic League Northern Division Championship Series. Luis Moreno (1-0) tossed 6.0 solid innings, allowing just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out seven to get the win. Offensively, Jose Peroza went 3-for-3 with a run scored, home run, and three RBI to lead the charge.

Brooklyn broke the ice in the bottom of the first after Alex Ramirez had a one-out single and advanced to second on a ground-out from JT Schwartz. Jose Peroza – who has been the hottest player in the South Atlantic League since early July – continued his scorching second half with an RBI single to give Brooklyn a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Jud Fabian started the top of the 2nd for Aberdeen with a rainbow home run that cleared the left field wall for a solo blast that knotted things up at 1-1.

In the bottom of the frame, Brooklyn used the long ball to jump back in front as Joe Suozzi hit a laser over the left field wall to give the ‘Clones a 2-1 lead and they would never look back.

The hits kept coming for the Cyclones in the bottom of the third when Stanley Consuegra lined a perfectly placed single between third and short to plate Alex Ramirez and extend the lead to 3-1.

With Moreno cruising on the mound, the lead appeared to be more than enough, but the Cyclones blew the game open in the bottom of the fifth. LHP Antonio Velez came on in relief for the IronBirds and was immediately greeted with thunder from Matt Rudick – who’s solo shot cleared the right field fence for a solo blast to make it 4-1. Alex Ramirez then reached on an error and two batters laser Jose Peroza went yard to push the Brooklyn lead to 6-1.

That’s how it would stay until the bottom of the eighth when Brooklyn tacked on a pair thanks to the electric Joe Suozzi. William Lugo worked a leadoff walk to start the frame and then Suozzi ripped a line drive into the right-center-field gap that allowed the Long Island native to circle all the way around the bases. It was ruled a triple and an error – but it’s an inside-the-park home run in our hearts – and the Cyclones extended their lead to 8-1.

Justin Courtney tossed 2.0 shutout frames and Daison Acosta tossed a scoreless ninth to close out the win for the Cyclones.

After a travel day on Wednesday, the Cyclones will take on Aberdeen in Game Two of the series on Thursday night where a win will advance Brooklyn to the South Atlantic League Finals.

Mets take opener of FSL East Division series from Cards, 6-1

The St. Mets won game 1 of the Florida State League East Division Championship Series 6-1 over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Tuesday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

It was the first playoff victory for St. Lucie since 2012. They are now one win away from clinching a berth in the FSL Finals. Game 2 of the series is Thursday at Clover Park. First pitch is 6:10 p.m.

On Tuesday, the Mets used three pitchers to dominate the Cardinals. Starter Blade Tidwell and relievers Javier Atencio and Raimon Gomez limited Palm Beach to a solo home run and four total hits. The trio stranded 10 base runners as the Cardinals went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Tidwell, the Mets second round pick this summer out of Tennessee, fired 4.2 brilliant shutout innings. He scattered two singles, did not walk a batter and struck out six. Tidwell stranded runners on second base in the first, second and fourth innings.

The Mets scored three runs on two-out hits against Cardinals starter Trent Baker in the top of the fifth. Kevin Kendall ripped a RBI triple to left field that plated Raul Beracierta all the way from first base to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.

D’Andre Smith followed with a RBI single up the middle to bring home Kendall for a 2-0 lead. Kevin Parada then mashed a double to the right-center gap to score Smith to make it 3-0.

Atenico took over for Tidwell with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. He got Victor Scott to fly out on the first pitch. Atencio struck out three in a row in the sixth inning after a leadoff walk.

The Mets loaded the bases in the eighth against reliever Gustavo Rodriguez when Smith walked, Tilien doubled and Chase Estep was intentionally walked. Carlos Dominguez delivered a deep sac fly to advance all three base runners push the Mets lead to 4-0.

Rodriguez mistakenly balked twice in a row to force in Tilien and Estep, giving the Mets a 6-0 advantage.

Jimmy Crooks got the Cardinals on the board in the bottom of the eighth when he homered on Atenicio’s first pitch.

After getting a ground out, Atencio walked two batters in a row and was replace by Raimon Gomez. Gomez struck out Thomas Francisco and got Leonardo Bernal on a comebacker to end the threat.

Gomez struck out two in the ninth to finish the game in a non-save situation.

Atencio pitched 2.2 innings to get the win.

Baker (0-1) took the loss. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Tilien and Kendall had two hits apiece for the Mets.

Smith reached based twice from the leadoff spot and scored both times.

Joshua Baez went 2 for 3 for the Cardinals and reached base three times. He had half of the hits for Palm Beach.

The Dunedin Blue Jays beat the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 6-4 in game 1 of the FSL West Division playoff series. Game 2 of that series is on Thursday in Fort Myers.