Mets Minors Recap: Clifford Homers Again, Sproat Struggles for Syracuse

Brandon Sproat got roughed up during his outing for Triple-A Syracuse against Worcester on Thursday. The 24-year-old raised his season ERA to 5.79 and is still trying to find his footing. On the positive side, Ryan Clifford homered for the second-straight day with Double-A Binghamton, and Eli Serrano had a big day for High-A Brooklyn.

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (10-12) 1, Worcester Red Sox (14-9) 14 

BOX SCORE

• SS Donovan Walton – 1-for-3, BB (.642 OPS)
• LF Billy McKinney – 2-for-4, 2B (.647 OPS)
• DH Jon Singleton – 2-for-4, (.943 OPS)

Syracuse failed to muster much offense during Thursday’s blowout loss. McKinney got two hits, including a double, and Singleton continued to impress, raising his OPS to .943. He would be a solid backup on the major league roster in the case of an injury.

• RHP Brandon Sproat 2.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 K (5.79 ERA)
• RHP Sean Reid-Foley 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K (6.43 ERA)
• LHP Anthony Gose 1.0 IP , 2 K (3.00 ERA)

Reid-Foley and Gose impressed out of the bullpen, combining for four strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings. Sproat looked solid until allowing an infield single in the third, where things unraveled for the Mets’ top pitching prospect. His command and strikeout rates will need to improve if he wants to contribute in Queens this summer.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (10-6) 5, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (6-9) 0

BOX SCORE

 

• CF Nick Morabito – 3-for-3, 1 R, HR, 2 RBI  (.738 OPS)
• 1B Ryan Clifford – 1-for-3, 1 R, HR , RBI ( (.900 OPS)
• C Kevin Parada – 1 -for-3, 1 R, HR, 2 RBI (.455 OPS)

Morabito, Clifford and Parada all smacked home runs on Thursday. Clifford raised his OPS to .900 and already has three home runs in April. His continued development could result in him becoming trade deadline bait if the Mets wish to make a big move. Morabito is on a bit of a hot streak as well, collecting five hits in his last three games.

• RHP Joander Suarez  5.2  IP, 2 H, 5 K  (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Daniel Juarez 1.2 IP , 1 H , 4 K (6.35 ERA)

Suarez was excellent, striking out five over 5 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old is yet to allow a run in his 14 innings to open the season. Juarez struck out four over 1 2/3 innings and has stabilized since giving up four earned runs on April 11.

Double-A

Game 2: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (11-6) 4, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (6-10) 1 (Makeup of April 6)

BOX SCORE

• C Matt O’Neill– 1-for-2, HR, BB 3 RBI (.930 OPS)
• 3B William Lugo– 1-for 3, RBI (.557 OPS)
• CF Alex Ramírez – 1-for-3 BB (.463 OPS)
• SS Jett Williams – 1-for-3  (.869 OPS)

O’Neill had a great day at the plate, hitting his first home run of the season and driving in three. Williams collected another hit and now has a six-game hitting streak, raising his OPS to .869 on the season.

• LHP Felipe De La Cruz 4.1 IP , ER, 2 H, 7 K  (1.98 ERA)
• RHP Luis Moreno 1.0 IP, 1 K (11.57 ERA)
• RHP Douglas Orellana 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 K (1.23 ERA)

Though he did surrender a homer, De La Cruz dazzled on Thursday, striking out seven over 4 1/3 innings while only allowing two hits. Orellana continues to impress too, striking out three over 1 2/3 innings and lowering his ERA to 1.23. He now has 11 strikeouts in seven innings of relief.

High-A

 Brooklyn Cyclones (12-6) 12, Jersey Shore BlueClaws 5 (6-12)

BOX SCORE

• LF Eli Serrano III– 5-for-6, HR, 2B, 3 RBI (.891 OPS)
• 2B D’Andre Smith– 3-for 4, RBI, BB (.908 OPS)
• 3B Jacob Reimer– 1-for-6, 2 RBI (.925 OPS)
• 1B Estarling Mercado – 1-for-3, 2 RBI  (.953 OPS)

Serrano went off on Thursday, going 5-for-6 with a home run and a double while driving in three runs. Reimer continued his strong start to the season, raising his OPS to .925 while also driving in a run. Mercado is emerging as a key contributor as well, knocking in another two runs and hitting a phenomenal .371 as April comes to a close.

• LHP Zach Thornton 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 3 K (0.44 ERA)
• RHP Alfred Vega 2.1 IP, 3 K (0.00 ERA)
• LHP Ryan Ammons 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K (0.00 ERA)

Thornton put together a gutsy performance, allowing seven hits over 4 2/3 innings but only ceding one run while striking out three. Vega also impressed, striking out three over 2 1/3 innings. Brooklyn’s team-wide 2.67 ERA stands as the best in the South Atlantic League.

Low-A

 St Lucie Mets (10-8) 4, Daytona Tortugas 5 (9-9)

BOX SCORE

• CF A.J. Ewing 1-for-3, 3B, RBI , BB (1.069 OPS)
• 2B Kevin Villavicencio– 2-for 4, RBI (1.054 OPS)
• RF Willy Fanas 2-for-4, RBI (.492 OPS)
• C Vincent Perozo 1-for-4, RBI (.788 OPS)

Ewing continued his strong start to the season, hitting a triple while also driving in a run. He is hitting .386 and could end up rising towards the top of the Mets’ prospect rankings as the year goes on.

• RHP Matt Allan  2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H , 1 BB, 1 K (2.70 ERA)
• RHP Dylan Tebrake 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Juan Arnaud 1.0 IP, 2 K  (9.64 ERA)
• RHP Channing Austin 4.0 IP,  3 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 3 K (7.71 ERA)

Tebrake put together a strong performance, striking out three over two innings. Allan continues to impress, as his fastball was sitting between 96-97 mph while recording a strikeout, walking one and surrendering a home run.

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