Mets Minors Recap: Montas Struggles in Syracuse

Frankie Montas struggled in his second Syracuse start Sunday. The 32-year-old is looking to get on the right track before rejoining the Mets pitching staff following a high-grade right lat strain that sidelined him in February. The big league club can afford to be patient with Montas, as the Mets boast a league-best team ERA of 2.85, a testament to the strength and depth of New York’s pitching staff. However, in four rehab appearances across Brooklyn and Syracuse, Montas has a 9.00 ERA in 12 innings. Batters are hitting .320 off him, and he’s only struck out nine, walked eight and allowed six home runs.

Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons (26-35) 8, Syracuse Mets (29-34) 6

Box Score

• DH Joey Meneses,, 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI (.782 OPS)
• SS Yonny Hernández, 2-for-4, 1 RBI (.639 OPS)
•  LF Luke Ritter, 1-for-5, HR, 1 RBI (.724 OPS)

Joey Meneses had a huge day at the plate Sunday as he hit his fourth homer of the season and smacked an RBI single in extras. Meneses has hit safely in four of his first six games to open the month of June. Luke Ritter also hit his second homer of the season.

• RHP Frankie Montas 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR (9.39 ERA)
• RHP Nolan McLean 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR (2.48 ERA)

The long ball posed a problem for Syracuse pitching today, as each member of the staff surrendered at least one home run, including Montas, who surrendered two as he looks to get into form before joining the boys in Flushing.

Double-A

 Somerset Patriots (25-31) 4, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (38-18) 7

Box Score 

•  2B Jett Williams, 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB (.849 OPS)
• 1B Ryan Clifford, 1-for-2, 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB (.792 OPS)
• CF Nick Morabito 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI (.785 RBI)

Mets top prospect Ryan Clifford flexed his power Sunday, hitting his 10th homer of the season as the Rumble Ponies bested the Patriots. Nick Morabito and Jett Williams also had productive days, as each hit run-scoring doubles. Williams has three multi-hit games in June alone.

• RHP Joander Suarez  5.0 IP,  3 ER, 6 H, 5 K, 2 HR (3.09 ERA)
• RHP Cameron Foster 2.0 IP, 1 K (1.88 ERA)
• RHP Ryan Lambert  1.0 IP, 2 K (2.57 ERA)

Joander Suarez is struggling to contain the long ball; he’s allowed three home runs in two June starts. Cameron Foster and Ryan Lambert combined for three scoreless innings and three strikeouts between the two. Foster’s scoreless outing extended his streak to six consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run.

High-A

Wilmington Blue Rocks (24-33) 5, Brooklyn Cyclones (39-18) 4

Box Score

• CF Carson Benge, 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI (.902 OPS)
• SS Marco Vargas, 3-for-5, 1 RBI (.582 OPS)

Carson Benge hit his 14th double of the season, and Marco Vargas collected three hits on the day, though it wasn’t enough as the Cyclones fell to the Blue Rocks in extras thanks to a Marcus Brown game-winning hit. Vargas has struggled a bit since his call-up to Brooklyn, but patience is often required for someone who just turned 20 and is still developing his hit tool.

• RHP Brendan Girton 4.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K (3.27 ERA)
• RHP R.J. Gordon 5.0 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR (3.00 ERA)

Brendan Girton and R.J. Gordon covered for a beleaguered Brooklyn bullpen as they combined for nine innings. Unfortunately, Gordon surrendered a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth. Girton lived up to his role as the bulldog of Binghamton’s staff, a mantle he’s embraced throughout the season.

Single-A

Dunedin Blue Jays (29-28) 2, St. Lucie Mets (30-26) 4

Box Score

• 1B Vincent Perozo,  2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 BB (.737 OPS)
• C Daiverson Gutierrez, 1-for-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB (.662 OPS)

Perozo and Gutierrez both stayed hot at the plate Sunday as both hit RBI singles. Perozo has four hits in his last two games. Gutierrez is riding a three-game hit streak going into Monday.

• RHP Edgar Moreta 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 8 K (3.27 ERA)
• RHP Hoss Brewer 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 K (0.72 ERA)

Edgar Moreta delivered a strong outing, allowing just one earned run over 5.2 innings while striking out eight. He scattered five hits and continues to be a steady presence on the mound. Hoss Brewer followed with two scoreless innings of relief, working around three hits and adding two strikeouts to maintain his impressive 0.72 ERA.

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