Mets Minors Recap: Sproat, Gilbert Lead Syracuse to Victory

Sunday’s action in the Mets minor leagues saw two wins (Syracuse and Brooklyn) and two losses (Binghamton and St. Lucie). It was a low-scoring day, as the highest-scoring matchup among the four games was a 5-4 affair in St. Lucie. Among the best individual performances of the day were in Syracuse, where top prospects Drew Gilbert and Brandon Sproat played a pivotal part in the Mets’ victory.

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (71-59) 1, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (62-66) 0

BOX SCORE

• CF Drew Gilbert: 1-for-4, HR (6), R, RBI (14), 2 K (.664 OPS)
• RF DJ Stewart: 1-for-2, 2B (5), BB, K (.879 OPS)
• 3B-2B Yolmer Sánchez: 1-for-3 (.701 OPS)
• 1B JT Schwartz: 1-for-3, 2B (8) (.582 OPS)

The Syracuse Mets beat the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 1-0 to close their series. The game featured very little offense, with both teams combining for six hits. The deciding hit was a solo home run from Drew Gilbert, his fifth home run in the last 11 games.

• RHP Brandon Sproat (W, 1-1): 5 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K (6.75 ERA)
• RHP Max Kranick (H, 4): 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K (3.27 ERA)
• RHP Eric Orze (H, 7): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K (3.23 ERA)
• LHP Matt Gage (S, 6): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, 0 K (4.85 ERA)

The Mets’ pitching staff tossed a shutout headlined by fast-rising prospect Brandon Sproat. Sproat threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out six in his best Triple-A start yet. Max Kranick and Eric Orze combined to throw 2 2/3 perfect innings, each striking out three. Matt Gage locked down the save with a scoreless ninth, ensuring the Mets would end up with a 1-0 win.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (63-60) 2, Hartford Yard Goats (70-54) 4

BOX SCORE

• LF Matt Rudick: 2-for-4, HR (7), R, RBI (37), K (.733 OPS)
• RF Alex Ramírez: 2-for-4, 2B (19), K (.606 OPS)
• C Kevin Parada: 2-for-4, R (.647 OPS)
• CF Jaylen Palmer: 1-for-3, 2B (18), RBI (26), BB, K (.73o OPS)

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies fell 4-2 in their matchup against the Hartford Yard Goats. Binghamton didn’t score until the sixth inning when they cut Hartford’s 2-0 lead in half, but the Yard Goats quickly extended their lead to 4-1. The Rumble Ponies would add another run, but it wouldn’t be enough to win. The lone run-scoring hits came from a Matt Rudick homer and Jaylen Palmer RBI double.

• RHP Jordan Geber (L, 4-4): 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K (3.42 ERA)
• LHP Daniel Juarez: 1/3 IP, 2 R (0 ER), H, BB, K (4.86 ERA)
• RHP Josh Hejka: 1 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K (6.63 ERA)
• RHP Wilkin Ramos: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K (1.95 ERA)

Jordan Geber earned the loss for Binghamton despite allowing just two runs in five innings. Daniel Juarez, Josh Hejka, and Wilkin Ramos combined for three innings out of the bullpen, allowing two unearned runs, both surrendered by Juarez. The staff pitched well, but it wasn’t enough in the low-scoring affair.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (61-65) 6, Winston-Salem Dash (57-69) 2

BOX SCORE

• C Ronald Hernandez: 2-for-4, 2B (2), R, 2 RBI (4) (.573 OPS)
• 2B D’Andre Smith: 1-for-3, R, RBI (13), BB, 2 K (.671 OPS)
• CF Omar De Los Santos: 1-for-4, 2B (17), R, RBI (31), K (.626 OPS)
• SS Kevin Villavicencio: 1-for-4, 2B (3), 2 RBI (5), K (.424 OPS)

The Brooklyn Cyclones defeated the Winston-Salem Dash 6-2 due to a seventh inning in which Brooklyn scored all six of their runs. That broke a scoreless tie, with Winston-Salem’s two runs coming in the bottom of the ninth. Eight of the Cyclones’ nine starting batters recorded hits, with eight of the team’s ten hits coming in that explosive seventh inning.

• LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K (4.28 ERA)
• RHP Ryan Lambert: 1 IP, 0 ER, H, BB, K (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Layonel Ovalles (W, 1-0): 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K (0.00 ERA)
• LHP Ryan Ammons: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K (1.47 ERA)
• RHP Jawilme Ramirez: 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, BB, K (3.93 ERA)
• LHP Gregori Louis: 2/3 IP, 2 R (0 ER), H, 2 BB, K (1.59 ERA)
• RHP Dakota Hawkins (S,1): 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K (4.30 ERA)

The seven Cyclones pitchers allowed two runs combined, both unearned, against lefty Gregori Louis. Otherwise, 2024 eighth-round draft pick Ryan Lambert made his pro debut with a scoreless inning, and Layonel Ovalles and Ryan Ammons combined for three perfect innings with seven strikeouts.

L0w-A

Jupiter Hammerheads (64-60) 5, St. Lucie Mets (43-81) 4

BOX SCORE

• CF A.J. Ewing: 2-for-4, 2 RBI (34), BB (.701 OPS)
• 2B Nick Roselli: 2-for-3, 2 BB (.931 OPS)
• SS Trey Snyder: 1-for-5, R, RBI (1), 2 K (.600 OPS)
• 1B Yohairo Cuevas: 2-for-4, 2 2B (27), R, RBI (44), BB (.628 OPS)

The St. Lucie Mets lost their home finale to the Jupiter Hammerheads 5-4. Despite the loss, it was an impressive offensive effort from the Mets, who recorded ten hits and six walks. Still, they only scored four times after going 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and leaving 14 runners on base.

• RHP Jorge De Leon (L, 0-3): 2/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 3 H, BB, 0 K (8.84 ERA)
• LHP Brayhans Barreto: 3 1/3 IP, ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K (6.53 ERA)
• RHP Ethan Lanthier: 1 IP, 0 ER, H, 0 BB, 2 K (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Edgar Moreta: 3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K (5.25 ERA)
• RHP Anthony Nunez: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K (4.05 ERA)

The Mets allowed five runs, all within the first two innings. An implosion in the first inning by starter Jorge De Leon led to four runs, which prompted the Mets to yank De Leon from the game after recording just two outs. In 8 1/3, four relievers combined to allow just one run. Brayhans Barreto and Edgar Moreta did the bulk of the work, combing for 6 1/3 innings, while 2024 12th-round pick Ethan Lanthier made his pro debut with a scoreless inning. Despite the fantastic effort from the bullpen, the Mets couldn’t overcome a sloppy first inning.

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