Minors Recap: Nick Morabito Shines In Brooklyn

Sunday was an atypical day in the Mets minor leagues in that Low-A St. Lucie, by far the worst of the Mets affiliates this year, was the only winner. Each of Triple-A Syracuse, Double-A Binghamton and High-A Brooklyn lost their matchups.

Nick Morabito shined on Sunday despite Brooklyn’s loss. He did a little bit of everything, recording four hits, including a double, two runs, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. Morabito has been one of the Mets’ best offensive minor leaguers this year, and he had arguably his best game since his promotion to Brooklyn earlier this season.

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (50-30) 3, Buffalo Bisons (39-41) 8

• CF Luisangel Acuña: 1-for-4, RBI (30), K (.701 OPS)
• DH Austin Allen: 1-for-3, 2B (1), R, BB, K (.949 OPS)
• 3B Pablo Reyes: 1-for-3, HR (6), 2 RBI (23), 2 R, BB, K (.931 OPS)
• RF Carlos Cortes: 1-for-4, K (.886 OPS)

The offense was not particularly strong in this one, as the Mets recorded just three runs on five hits. Pablo Reyes drove in the first two runs with a two-run homer in the fifth, and Luisangel Acuña drove in the third run with an RBI single in the eighth. Acuña’s RBI hit tied the game 3-3, but the Bisons would score five in the bottom of the inning to put the game away.

Many of the Mets’ typical mashers, Brett Baty, Rylan Bannon and Luke Ritter, were all held hitless in the effort, certainly a contributing factor in the loss.

• RHP Blade Tidwell: 4 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 5 BB, 7 K (5.12 ERA)
• RHP Carlos Guzman: 1 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Cole Sulser: 1 IP, 0 ER, H, 0 BB, K (1.85 ERA)
• RHP Wilkin Ramos (L, 1-1): 1/3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, K (9.00 ERA)
• IF Yolmer Sánchez: 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K (0.00 ERA)

Another main factor in Syracuse’s loss was the fact that they surrendered ten walks. Starter Blade Tidwell led the effort with five walks in 4 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs in his outing as he continues to struggle in Triple-A, though he did strike out seven. Wilkin Ramos, who is also fairly new to Triple-A, added three more walks in an ugly eighth inning. He recorded just one out and surrendered five runs, three earned.

Carlos Guzman made his Triple-A debut and allowed no runs to come across despite walking two batters. Cole Sulser pitched an easy inning in relief, while position player Yolmer Sánchez finished the game by recording two outs.

Double-A

Portland Sea Dogs (39-35) 9, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (37-35) 1

• LF Matt Rudick: 2-for-5, 2B (14) (.693 OPS)
• RF Ryan Clifford: 1-for-4 (.828 OPS)
• 1B JT Schwartz: 1-for-3, R, BB, K (.804 OPS)
• DH Drake Osborn: 1-for-4, RBI (14), 2 K (.688 OPS)

Binghamton had an even worse offensive day than Syracuse, scoring just one run on six hits against the Portland Sea Dogs. The lone run came on an RBI single from Drake Osborn in the bottom of the second inning. That cut the Binghamton deficit to 2-1, and from that point, Portland scored seven unanswered runs to put the game way out of reach.

• RHP Luis Moreno (L, 1-2): 5 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 7 H, BB, 3 K (4.63 ERA)
• LHP Daniel Juarez: 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, K (6.00 ERA)
• RHP Junior Santos: 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K (5.96 ERA)
• RHP Bryce Montes de Oca: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K (5.40 ERA)
• RHP Nolan Clenney: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, K (7.03 ERA)

The game was put out of reach fairly quickly, with Portland taking a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning and a 9-1 lead in the sixth inning. Luis Moreno struggled, allowing five runs, three of which were earned, in five innings. Daniel Juarez, though,struggled the most, allowing four runs and recording just one out. From that point, Junior Santos, Bryce Montes de Oca and Nolan Clenney combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Montes de Oca pitched well, striking out two in a perfect inning. He’s a name to keep an eye on at this juncture in the season as the Mets’ big league bullpen has struggled amidst injuries and Edwin Díaz‘s suspension. Though a call up is unlikely, he did sniff the majors in 2022 and could be there again soon.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (35-40) 10, Aberdeen IronBirds (41-34) 11

• LF Nick Morabito: 4-for-5, 2B (8), 2 R, 2 RBI (8), BB, SB (23) (.772 OPS)
• 1B Christopher Suero: 2-for-5, RBI (21), 2 K (.681 OPS)
• 2B Jefrey De Los Santos: 1-for-3, 2B (10), R, 2 RBI (19), BB (.701 OPS)
• RF Karell Paz: 2-for-5, HR (3), R, 2 RBI (8), K (.538 OPS)

Unlike Syracuse and Binghamton, Brooklyn had a fantastic day at the plate. Unfortunately, the Aberdeen IronBirds had an even better day. The slugfest resulted in an 11-10 Brooklyn loss, with Aberdeen walking it off in the ninth inning. Brooklyn scored in five of the nine innings, including three in the first and four in the ninth. The big ninth inning gave Brooklyn a 10-8 lead heading into the bottom of the frame, but Aberdeen scored the necessary three runs on a three-run homer to win.

• LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 4 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K (4.02 ERA)
• RHP Jeffrey Colon: 1 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, K (5.91 ERA)
• RHP Justin Lawson: 2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K (3.75 ERA)
• RHP Henry Henry: 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K (8.31 ERA)
• RHP Joshua Cornielly (L, 1-5) (BS, 3): 0 IP, ER, H, 0 BB, 0 K (4.97 ERA)

It was a rough day for the Brooklyn pitching staff, with each of the five pitchers who made appearances surrendering at least one run. Felipe De La Cruz and Jeffrey Colon allowed three runs each in five combined innings, while Henry Henry and Joshua Cornielly contributed to the blown save in the ninth inning. It was a forgettable game for these pitchers, especially considering the offense scored ten runs.

Low-A

St. Lucie Mets (25-50) 5, Palm Beach Cardinals (41-33) 1

• DH Marco Vargas: 0-for-3, R, RBI (5), BB, K (.649 OPS)
• RF Estarling Mercado: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI (20), K (.701 OPS)
• 1B Yohairo Cuevas: 1-for-3, 2B (12), RBI (18), BB, K, SB (9) (.542 OPS)
• CF Willy Fanas: 1-for-4, 2B (5), R, 2 K (.581 OPS)

The St. Lucie Mets were the only team affiliate to win on Sunday, defeating the Palm Beach Cardinals 5-1. Still, the Mets recorded just four hits but walked six times. All of the Mets’ runs came in the third inning during a rally that included a Marco Vargas bases-loaded walk, an Estarling Mercado two-run single, a Yohairo Cuevas RBI double, and a Jeffry Rosa sacrifice fly. That’s all St. Lucie would need, as the pitching staff held Palm Beach to just one run.

• RHP Joel Díaz (W, 1-2): 5 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K (5.92 ERA)
• RHP Layonel Ovalles: 2 2/3 IP, 0 ER, H, BB, K (8.16 ERA)
• LHP Ryan Ammons: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, K (2.88 ERA)

St. Lucie needed just three pitchers to get through nine innings, and they were uncharacteristically fantastic. Joel Díaz, whose ERA is nearing 6.00, was the winning pitcher after allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings. Layonel Ovalles, whose ERA sits above 8.00, threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings. And Ryan Ammons, who has been good with a sub-3.00 ERA, pitched a perfect ninth inning. While the offense has been a major issue, pitching has been just as faulty this year, but they came through Sunday to give the Mets the win.

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