Mets Minors Recap: Blackburn Solid In Fourth Rehab Start

Paul Blackburn turned in another solid outing with Triple-A Syracuse, going 5 2/3 innings while giving up two runs. The Mets had placed the 31-year-old Blackburn on the 15-day injured list July 3 (retroactive to June 30) with a right shoulder impingement. This was his fourth start in his most recent rehab stretch with Syracuse.

Triple-A

Box Score

Syracuse Mets (60-52) 9, Charlotte Knights (52-59) 5

• SS Luisangel Acuña: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R (.724 OPS
• LF Rafael Ortega: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R (.801 OPS)
• 3B Luis De Los Santos: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R (.660 OPS)

Syracuse broke through in the fourth inning after falling behind early. Luisangel Acuña started the fourth-inning rally that brought home three runs with a single. The following frame proved even bigger, as Pablo Reyes lined a two-run double and Rafael Ortega followed with a two-run double of his own to push the lead to seven. Ortega finished with three RBI on the night, and Luis De Los Santos added insurance with a solo homer in the eighth.

• RHP Paul Blackburn (W, 5-1): 5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HBP (2.55 ERA)
• RHP Dom Hamel: 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HBP (4.94 ERA)

Paul Blackburn delivered another solid outing in his rehab start, pitching 5 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs and issuing no walks. He threw 97 pitches with 61 of them as strikes. Right-hander Dom Hamel followed him but struggled, allowing five baserunners and two earned runs.

Double-A

Box Score

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (71-33) 5, Somerset Patriots (56-50) 2

• SS/CF Jett Williams: 3-for-4, BB, 3 R (.881 OPS)
• OF Carson Benge: 1-for-4, 2B, BB (1.033 OPS)
• 1B/OF Ryan Clifford: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, R (.868 OPS)

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies earned a 5-2 win over the Somerset Patriots behind a powerful night from Ryan Clifford, who drove in three runs via a go-ahead two-run homer, his 24th of the season. Jett Williams also helped energize the offense with three hits, three runs scored, and three stolen bases, while designated hitter D’Andre Smith added two hits and a run.

• LHP Jonathan Santucci: 6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR (3.33 ERA)

Left-hander Jonathan Santucci delivered a dominant performance for Binghamton, pitching six strong innings while allowing just two runs (one earned) on two hits and three free passes. Santucci retired 17 of 18 batters in one stretch and secured his third win of the season. He was supported by Daniel Juarez’s two scoreless innings of relief and a perfect ninth inning from Carlos Guzman.

High-A

Box Score

Hudson Valley Renegades (64-39) 2, Brooklyn Cyclones (61-45) 0

• OF/2B A.J. Ewing: 0-for-4, SO (.840 OPS)
• INF Boston Baro: 1-for-4, SO (.629 OPS)
• SS Colin Houck: 0-for-3, BB, SO (.492 OPS)

Brooklyn’s offense struggled to produce runs, managing only three hits and going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Boston Baro, however, was still able to extend his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the eighth. The Cyclones failed to capitalize and were held scoreless. Multiple runners were left on base throughout the game, including two walks in the fourth that ended with a double play and a caught stealing in the eighth to end a potential rally. MMO’s #9 ranked prospect A.J. Ewing has started his August off on a sour note, going 4-for-29 to begin the month.

• RHP Noah Hall: 6 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (2.08 ERA)

24-year-old right-hander Noah Hall extended his strong season with 6⅓ innings of one-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one to keep the Cyclones competitive. Hall has now recorded exactly 100 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched this year. Debuting reliever Hunter Hodges took the loss as his control issues persisted. He struck out three in the eighth but two walks and two hits doomed him, resulting in two runs scored.

Low-A

Box Score

St. Lucie Mets (61-42) 10, Tampa Tarpons (48-52) 4

• INF Jeremy Rodríguez: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 3 R, 2 SB (.570 OPS)

St. Lucie had a field day on the bases, stealing 11 bags and converting that aggressive baserunning into 10 runs. The Mets went a perfect 11-for-11 on steal attempts, with Jeremy Rodríguez, Trey Snyder, and Yonatan Henriquez each swiping two bases. At the plate, first baseman Trace Willhoite (.858 OPS), AJ Salgado (.749 OPS), and Simon Juan (.644 OPS) all recorded multi-hit games, though only among them, only Salgado had an extra-base hit.

• RHP Jonathan Jimenez: 4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (0.87 ERA)
• RHP Joel Lara: 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (0.00 ERA)

Jonathan Jimenez was sharp over 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Joel Lara’s St. Lucie debut saw him earn the win in relief. He gave up two unearned runs over 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts. Luis Alvarez and Jorge De Leon combined to close out the final inning to secure the win.

Note: St. Lucie was originally scheduled for a doubleheader Thursday against Tampa, but the second game was canceled due to weather. Therefore, the first game was a shortened seven-inning contest. They will make up the second game in a twin bill on Friday, with Game 1 starting at 4:00 p.m.

Dominican Summer League

DSL Nationals (23-25) 8, DSL Mets Orange (26-22) 7
DSL Rangers Blue (15-33) 13, DSL Mets Blue (17-31) 6 

The DSL Mets Orange’s first two hitters, top prospect Elian Peña and outfielder Heriberto Rincon, each had big days at the plate. Both recorded multi-hit performances, with Rincon leading the charge by collecting four hits, including a triple.

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