IN FOCUS - Ryan Lambert, Kodai Senga, Dedniel Nunez

 

Syracuse –

With timely hitting and a strong day by the pitching staff, the Syracuse Mets took down the Worcester Red Sox 8-3 on Friday night at Polar Park. Five of Syracuse's ten hits on Friday were extra-base hits.

For the second consecutive game, Syracuse (11-14) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. After Drew Gilbert walked, Joey Meneses brought Gilbert home with an RBI triple that put the Mets ahead, 1-0. 

In the third inning, the Mets put pressure on Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito. To begin the inning, Donovan Walton worked a walk, and Drew Gilbert knocked Walton in with an RBI double that made it 2-1. Soon after, Jon Singleton singled and moved Gilbert to third. With nobody out, Joey Meneses hit a sacrifice fly and scored Gilbert, extending the Syracuse lead to 3-1. 

With eight runs, ten hits, and eight walks, every member of the Syracuse lineup reached base en route to the win. Gilbert and Singleton each had a pair of hits, while Ritter led the way with a season-high three RBIs. 

On the mound, Brandon Waddell pitched four innings and only allowed one earned run in his start. The bullpen arms of Kevin Herget, Tyler Zuber, Dedniel Nuñez, and Genesis Cabrera combined for five innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts. 

 

Binghamton –

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (11-7) fell to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 5-0, in a rain-shortened game and snapped their eight-game win streak on Friday at Mirabito Stadium.

Right-hander Nolan McLean (2-1) made the start and allowed three runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Postgame Notes: Through four starts, McLean has allowed three runs in 20.1 innings (1.77 ERA)…Nick Morabito went 0-for-3 and snapped his 13-game on-base streak…Nick Lorusso went 0-for-2 and snapped his 13-game on-base streak.

 

Brooklyn –

Behind a grand slam from CF Carson Benge for his first home run of the season, the Brooklyn Cyclones took down the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 8-3, from Lakewood on Friday night. Brooklyn pitchers struck out a season-high 18 batters in the victory.

Benge was not the only Cyclone to launch his first long ball of 2025, as 1B Estarling Mercado belted a two-run shot to center.

From a pitching standpoint, RHP R.J. Gordon was lights out for the ‘Clones. The righty tossed five innings of one-run ball, striking out nine and walking only one. The former Oregon Duck punched out six straight Jersey Shore batters spanning from the 1st through the 3rd frame.

The 'Clones bullpen was equally as efficient as their starter. RHP Austin Troesser, RHP Saul Garcia, RHP Anthony Nunez and RHP Bryan Metoyer combined for four innings of two-run ball. Garcia, Nunez and Metoyer all contributed scoreless efforts. All four Brooklyn relievers struck out at least two, while Metoyer recorded all three of his outs via the K.

 

St. Lucie -

The St. Lucie Mets romped their way to an 11-2 win over the Daytona Tortugas on Friday night at Clover Park. 

The Mets pounded out 15 hits and all nine starters in the lineup recorded at least one hit. Kevin Villavicencio led the way by going 3 for 5 with a double, RBI and run. He raised his batting average to .462 in seven games since coming down from Brooklyn. 

A.J. Ewing, Colin Houck, Marco Vargas and Jeremy Rodriguez had two hits apiece. 

It was a two man performance on the mound for St. Lucie. Starter Edgar Moreta cruised over 5.0 scoreless innings. Moreta scattered two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three. He only threw 45 pitches. Moreta has yet to walk a batter this season in 12.2 innings. 

Will Watson pitched the final 4.0 innings to earn the save. Watson struck out seven and walked just one.  

 

Thomas Nestico                 @TJStats

Ryan Lambert (NYM) has been utterly dominant since being drafted in the 8th round of the 2024 draft. He currently has a 60.0 K% and -0.02 FIP across 7.0 IP and wields one of the nastiest fastballs in MiLB. It is a true cut-ride fastball with +20" iVB!

Reminder that the Mets have this demon chilling in AAA

Kodai Senga carved through Washington with 6 strong innings, racking up a 26.2% whiff rate while showcasing a full 7-pitch mix.

The ghost fork lived up to the hype (31.2% whiff), and the sinker + sweeper combo helped keep barrels off the board.

 

 Transactions

            Mets –

                        Signed LHRP Brooks Raley

Syracuse –

                        RHP Jordan Geber activated off Syracuse's DL

IF Niko Goodrum voluntarily retired

3B Brett Baty optioned to AAA Syracus

C Hayden Senger optioned to AAA-Syracuse

IF Luis De Los Santos placed on Syracuse's 7-day IL

IF Diego Castillo activated off Syracuse's DL