Mets Minors Recap: Luke Ritter Turns In Another Strong Performance

Weather on the East Coast made it difficult for many games to be played, with Triple-A Syracuse being the only full-season team able to go. The Syracuse Mets were swept in their doubleheader slate on Saturday by the Columbus Clippers. Triple-A Game 1: Columbus Clippers (52-52) 7, Syracuse Mets (62-43) 1 In 6 Innings BOX […]

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Weather on the East Coast made it difficult for many games to be played, with Triple-A Syracuse being the only full-season team able to go. The Syracuse Mets were swept in their doubleheader slate on Saturday by the Columbus Clippers.

Luke Ritter. Photo by Herm Card

Triple-A

Game 1: Columbus Clippers (52-52) 7, Syracuse Mets (62-43) 1 In 6 Innings

BOX SCORE

• 2B Luke Ritter: 3-for-3, 2B, RBI (.904 OPS)
• SS Pablo Reyes: 1-for-2, R, K (.916 OPS)

Despite taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Syracuse was downed by Columbus 7-1. Ritter drove in the solo run in the top of the doubleheader, his ninth RBI of the week. Ritter has been on a tear since his slump in June. He has a six-game hit streak and has increased his average by 0.19 points over that span, not to mention his 1.012 OPS in July.

• RHP Blade Tidwell (5.63 ERA) 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 3 K (65 pitches/37 strikes)
• RHP Wilkin Ramos 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• RHP Shintaro Fujinami 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Tidwell had some bad luck on Saturday; only two of his six runs allowed in the third inning were earned. After returning to the organization after being DFA’d to clear room on the 40-man roster for the big league club’s trade deadline acquisitions, Shintaro Fujinami gave Syracuse two quality innings in relief. He notably did not allow a hit or walk in this appearance.

JT Schwartz. Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Game 2: Columbus Clippers (53-52) 3, Syracuse Mets (62-44) 0 In 7 Innings

BOX SCORE

• 1B JT Schwartz: 2-for-3, 2 2B (.575 OPS)
• RF DJ Stewart: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, K (1.000 OPS)

Syracuse was shut out in the night cap of their doubleheader on Saturday, losing 3-0 to the Clippers. Schwartz picked up two doubles, only his third and fourth extra-base hits since his promotion to Syracuse on July 11. DJ Stewart appeared in his first games for Syracuse since his demotion from the major league. He picked up a double and a walk.

• RHP Jordan Geber (4.26 ERA) 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K (63 pitches/41 strikes)
• RHP Eric Orze 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
• LHP Matt Gage 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

For the second-straight game, Columbus scored all of its runs in one inning. This time, Jordan Geber was responsible, though his offense did not do him any favors. Orze and Gage combined for two innings, two baserunners, and four strikeouts. Gage has not allowed a run since coming to the Mets organization (six appearances).

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (52-45) New Hampshire FisherCats (39-58)

Due to inclement weather, Saturday’s game between Binghamton and New Hampshire game was been postponed. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday with Game 1 starting at 2:15 pm.

D’Andre Smith. Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

High-A 

Brooklyn Cyclones (47-53) 3, Aberdeen IronBirds (52-48) 4 In 8 Innings

BOX SCORE

• 2B D’Andre Smith: 2-for-3, R, BB, K (.367 OPS)
• CF Omar De Los Santos: 1-for-3, R, HR (7), 3 RBI (.589 OPS)
• DH Nick Morabito: 1-for-3, 3B, BB, K (.727 OPS)

Due to rain, the Friday night game between Brooklyn and Aberdeen has to be suspended and finished on Saturday, followed by the scheduled initially Saturday game. Neither happened. The resumed Friday night match was called in the eighth inning on Saturday due to inclement weather, and game two has been pushed back to Sunday.

The Cyclones’ only run scored came on Saturday, a three-run homer from Omar De Los Santos; his seventh of the season in Brooklyn.

• LHP Felipe De La Cruz (4.42 ERA) 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (55 pitches/ 32 strikes)
• RHP Zach Thornton 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• RHP Henry Henry 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K

The stopping and starting did not help the Brooklyn staff, who used two frontline pitchers. De La Cruz and Thornton gave the Cyclones little length, throwing three innings and allowing earned runs.

Low-A 

Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (51-46) 2, St. Lucie Mets (34-66) 3

Due to persistent rain, Saturday’s game between the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and St. Lucie Mets was been postponed. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday with Game 1 starting at 12:05 pm ET. Both games will be seven innings.

Both DSL teams won their matchups against their DSL Yankee counterparts. Mets Orange were led by C Yovanny Rodriguez who went 2-for-4, with a run, a double, and five RBIs. Mets Blue only collected four hits but scored the winning run via centerfielder Reneil Diaz’s RBI-single. 

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