Both Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing have continued to be one of the best hitters in the New York Mets system. This was no different on Saturday as each picked up multiple hits. Benge’s season OPS sits at .902 while Ewing’s owns a .328 batting average.
David Villar. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Triple-A
Buffalo Bisons (25-35) 7, Syracuse Mets (29-33) 5
David Villar had an excellent day at the plate despite the loss, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and a double. Jon Singleton smacked a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning before Buffalo rallied for four runs in the eighth.
Justin Hagenman was a workhorse, despite the bullpen not being able to pick him up, tossing 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Austin Warren struck out three and allowed two runs as he entered the game with a runner on due to a fielding error by shortstop Yonny Hernández.
Ryan Clifford. Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Double-A
Somerset Patriots (25-30) 2, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (37-18) 5
Box ScoreÂ
D’Andre Smith led the charge on Saturday, with a game-winning three-double and is riding a four-game hitting streak heading into Sunday. Ryan Clifford added an RBI double of his own and has back-to-back days with a hit.
Jonathan Pintaro was magnificent, tossing four scoreless innings, with five strikeouts in his first appearance since May 21. Luis Moreno picked up his fourth win of the season and has only allowed one run in his first two appearances in June. Dylan Ross struck out the side to seal a 5-2 win over the Patriots.
AJ Ewing, Carson Benge. Photo by James Villani, MMO
High-A
Wilmington Blue Rocks (23-33) 3, Brooklyn Cyclones (39-17) 6
Carson Benge drove in four runs and reached base five times, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and two walks. A.J. Ewing continued his hot start in Brooklyn, going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Joel DÃaz tossed five innings of one-run ball while striking out two and has allowed three earned runs in 9 1/3 innings in June. Saul Garcia earned his sixth save of the season, striking out two, and has righted the ship after a rough May, where he allowed a total of 15 earned runs.
Colin Houck. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Single-A
Dunedin Blue Jays (29-27) 5, St. Lucie Mets (29-26) 4
Colin Houck and Daiverson Gutierrez both collected RBIs, providing steady production at the top of the lineup. Vincent Perozo added a run-scoring single of his own. Houck now has six hits in his last five games and is steadily finding his rhythm at the plate as the weather heats up.
RHP Channing Austin 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 1 BB (4.47 ERA)
RHPÂ Estarlin Escalante 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB (6.00 ERA)
RHP Hunter Hodges 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K (3.20 ERA)
Channing Austin gutted through 4 1/3 innings of work Sunday, though he didn’t look his sharpest as he allowed two earned runs and only struck out two. Estarlin Escalante delivered 2 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, working around two hits and a walk, bouncing back from his rough outing on the 31, where he allowed 3 earned runs.
Florida Complex League
FCL Mets (9-12) 5, FCL Astros (12-8) 4
Randy Guzman powered the FCL Mets’ offense on Saturday, launching a go-ahead, game-winning home run in the seventh inning, his fourth of the season. Bohan Adderley got in on the action with an RBI single of his own.
RHP Jonathan Jimenez 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 K, 3 BB (7.98 ERA)
RHPÂ Omar Victorino 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 K, 1 BB (6.14 ERA)
RHP Elwis Mijares 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB (2.25 ERA)
Jonathan Jimenez allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks over two innings, striking out three. Omar Victorino gave up one run across two frames while fanning three. Elwis Mijares turned in a scoreless outing, striking out two and allowing just one hit over two innings. Mijares has looked solid in his first three appearances, allowing one earned run with six strikeouts.
Dominican Summer League
DSL Mets Blue (0-5) 2, DSL Rockies (4-1) 9
DH Justin Ramirez: 0-for-3, RBI (.600 OPS)
18-year-old Yensi Rivas had the DSL Mets Blue only extra-base hit, a double. He has his batting average up to .313 on the young season.
RHP Abner Meza: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO (4.50 ERA)
LHP Wilmer Lugo: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO (14.73)
DSL-Mets Orange (2-1) 3, DSL-Blue Jays Red (1-2) 4
CF Heriberto Rincon: 3-for-3, R (1.292 OPS)
SS Elian Peña: 0-for-3, BB, SO (.417 OPS)
In the conclusion of a postponed game from June 5, outfielder Heriberto Rincon continued his strong start to the season, getting a hit in each of his at-bats raising his early season OPS to 1.292.
RHP Franyel Diaz: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO (4.50 ERA)
DSL-Mets Orange (3-2) 3, DSL-Blue Jays Red (1-4) 1
CF Adolfo Miranda: 1-for-2, RBI (.424 OPS)
SS Elian Peña: 0-for-3 (.262 OPS)
Highly-touted international signee, Elian Peña, is still without a hit to begin his Dominican Summer League season. He went a combined 0-for-6 between the two games Saturday.
LHP Luis Sotillo: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO (0.00)
19-year-old left-handed pitcher Luis Sotillo turned in a superb outing in a starter’s role on Saturday, throwing four scoreless innings to begin the contest.
