Mets Minors Recap: Binghamton Loses Game 1 of Eastern League Championship

After securing the best record in the Eastern League in both halves, the Rumble Ponies dropped their first game of the Championship Series to the Erie SeaWolves. The bats were relatively quiet in the blowout win, and  R.J. Gordon struggled facing an Erie lineup containing three top-100 prospects. Meanwhile, Jett Williams, Carson Benge, Ryan Clifford and Kevin Parada all hit home runs as Syracuse won its final game of the season.

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (77-73) 9, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (87-61) 0

BOX SCORE

• SS Jett Williams – 2-for-5, 2 R, HR (7), 1 RBI (15) (.718 OPS)
• *REHAB* CF Tyrone Taylor – 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI (2), 1 K (.444 OPS)
• 1B Ryan Clifford – 2-for-4, 1 R, HR (5), 2 RBI (18), 1 BB, 1 K (.754 OPS)
• RF Carson Benge – 1-for-5, 1 R, HR (3), 2 RBI (13) (.583 OPS)
• C Kevin Parada – 1-for-5, 1 R, HR (1), 1 RBI, 1 K (.567 OPS)

Luke Ritter ended his season with a bang, going 4-for-4 while hitting his 11th home run of the season. Ritter was a surprise in the organization last year, but struggled this year, finishing the year with a .697 OPS. Jett Williams combined for 17 home runs across two levels, and Ryan Clifford hit 29 across two levels while continuing to show his advanced eye at the plate, putting the ball in play more and with more authority while lowering his strikeout rate.

• RHP Jonathan Pintaro (5.22 ERA) 5 IP, 2 H, 6 K (49 of 70 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Dylan Ross (1.69 ERA) 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K

Jonathan Pintaro had an uneven 2025 season, coming out of the gate strong and striking batters out at a high clip in Binghamton, then struggling with his control in July and August before settling down somewhat in September, control-wise, but still being very hittable. Dylan Ross put together an amazing season and will have to be added to the 40-man roster this winter or risk being lost in the Rule 5 draft.

Double-A

EASTERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 1

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (0-1) 5, Erie SeaWolves (1-0) 14

BOX SCORE

• CF A.J. Ewing – 0-for-5, 2 K (.715 OPS)
• LF Nick Morabito – 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB (.445 OPS)
• 3B Jacob Reimer – 2-for-4, 1 RBI (2), 1 BB (.381 OPS)
• C Chris Suero – 0-for-5, 1 R, 1 K (.648 OPS)

Binghamton could only turn 12 hits into five runs, but that would not be enough with the pitching staff struggling. D’Andre Smith had a big day, going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBIs. The Rumble Ponies were 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and had four of their 12 hits go for extra bases. Chris Suero picked off the opposing catcher, Jose Briceño, at first base.

• RHP R.J. Gordon (14.73 ERA) 3 2/3 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 K, 2 HR allowed (40 of 65 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Brian Metoyer (18.00 ERA) 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• RHP Joander Suarez (0.00 ERA) 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K

The Erie lineup scored on R.J. Gordon in three of the four innings he pitched, giving up a home run to the potential 2026 top prospect in all of baseball, Kevin McGonigle, while also facing a stacked lineup. Gordon saw four of the nine hits he allowed go for extra bases. The Rumble Ponies’ bullpen also struggled to prevent runs, allowing nine runs.

Binghamton will continue the series on Tuesday at 6:35 P.M, sending RHP Will Watson to the mound to face off against RHP Garrett Burhenn.

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