AAA (Game 1: Scranton (3-0) 7, Syracuse Mets (0-3) 6 Box Score

• Carlos Cortes LF: 1-for-4, 2 R, BB, K
• Daniel Palka 1B: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB, K
• Quinn Brodey CF: 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SB

Syracuse was able to overcome some sloppy defensive play (three errors) to force extra innings but ultimately dropped a third-straight game to the RailRiders. After falling behind 4-1 early, Daniel Palka tied the game with a three-run bomb in the fifth.

Quinn Brodey was the star for the Mets, stealing three bases before tyng the game again with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Brodey, a third-round pick in 2017, slashed .174/.255/.285 last season with 14 steals, mainly between AA and AAA.

• RHP Eric Orze (L, 0-1, 0.00 ERA) 1.0 IP, H, BB, K
• RHP Stephen Nogosek (0-0, 2.70 ERA) 2.0 IP, ER, H, 4 K
• RHP Cole Gordon (0-0, 9.00 ERA) 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H,  2 BB, K

Gordon made his AAA debut in the start for Syracuse, coming off a solid season with Binghamton where he recorded a 3.69 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. However, he struggled with his command early on Friday, before being victimized by a two-run Greg Bird home run. Nogosek looked sharp, working out of a bases-loaded/no-out jam by striking out Oswald Peraza and Estevan Florial.  Orze was tagged with the loss, allowing an unearned run in the top of the 8th.

AAA (Game Two): Scranton (4-0) 10, Syracuse Mets (0-4) 1 Box Score

• Carlos Rincon 1B: 1-for-3, 2 K
• Daniel Palka RF: 1-for-2, 2B, BB
• Mark Vientos 3B: 1-for-2, 2B, K

The Mets dropped their fourth-consecutive game to the RailRiders to open the year after getting blown out in the second game of a doubleheader.  However, Rincon and Palka have gotten off to solid starts; Rincon is 5-for-14 to begin the year, while Palka is 2-for-5 with a double and home run. Vientos, the Mets’ highest-ranked prospect in AAA, recorded his first extra-base hit of the year with a double in the seventh inning.

• RHP Jose Rodriguez (L, 0-1, 18.90 ERA) 3.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K
• RHP Yoan Lopez (0-0, 21.60 ERA) 1.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K
• LHP Alex Claudio (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 1.1 IP, 2 H, BB

Mets pitching had no answers for the RailRiders. Starter Jose Rodriguez was crushed for seven runs, allowing three home runs in only 3 1/3 innings. Yoan Lopez, claimed off waivers from the Marlins on the eve of the season, couldn’t stop the bleeding in relief, allowing a home run to noted Mets-killer Ender Inciarte.

Veterans Claudio and R.J. Alvarez both contended with some traffic but were able to hold Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to one unearned run over the final 2 1/3 innings.

AA: Binghamton (1-0) 8, Hartford (0-1) 2 Box Score

• Francisco Alvarez C: 3-for-5, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, K
• Brett Baty 3B: 2-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 R, RBI
• Ronny Mauricio SS: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 K, CS

You couldn’t have asked for a better way for the Rumble Ponies to open the season, racking up eight extra-base hits in the victory   The Mets’ top three prospects went a combined 12-for-15 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs.  Baty opened the scoring for Binghamton, with a solo home run in the first.

https://twitter.com/RumblePoniesBB/status/1512588049284321282

Alvarez had a huge night in his AA debut, coming off of his breakthrough 2021 season where he slashed .272/.388/.544 with 22 home runs between A/A+.  Mauricio is also looking to build off a strong finish to 2021, going 10-for-31 in eight games with the Rumble Ponies.

• RHP Jose Butto (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 4.0 IP, 3 H, 8 K
• RHP Yeizo Campos (W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA) 2.0 IP, BB, 3 K
• RHP Bryce Montes de Oca (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 1.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K

Butto, the Mets’ 11th ranked prospect, got the ball on opening day and was dominant.  Signed out of Venezuela in 2017, Butto posted a 3.83 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 10.03 K/9 between A+ and AA last season.  He’s certainly going to be a name to watch in Binghamton.

The 6’7″, 265 lb Montes de Oca closed out the game, striking out a pair of Yard Goats on 100 mph fastballs. Control will be the biggest question for the big right-hander, who walked 7.15 through nine while pitching mostly for Brooklyn in 2021.

A: St. Lucie Mets (1-0) 9, Daytona Tortugas (0-1) 6 Box Score

• Alex Ramirez CF: 3-for-5, R, RBI, K
• Stanley Consuegra RF: 2-for-4, R, K
• Shervyen Newton SS: 2-for-3, RBI, 2B, BB

It was a nice opener in St. Lucie as well, as the Mets’ offense came out of the gate strong in Daytona. Ramirez, the Mets’ most exciting prospect in low-A, opened the year with a multi-hit game after he slashed .258/.326/.384 in his first professional season. Consuegra was also impressive in his debut for St. Lucie after posting a .270/.325/.500 line in the Gulf Coast League. Newton has seen his status as a prospect fade after a few lackluster seasons in low-A, so it’s nice to see a positive opener from the switch-hitting shortstop.

• LHP Keyshawn Askew (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 3.0 IP, R, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K
• LHP Nick Zwack (W, 1-0, 9.00 ERA) 3.0 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 7 K
• RHP Grant Hartwig (H, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) 2.0 IP, 4 K

Askew, a 10th round pick out of Clemson in 2021, worked around some traffic to hold Daytona to just one unearned run in his St. Lucie debut. Zwack’s performance was a mixed bag, as he did allow three earned runs over three innings, but struck out seven while earning the win and hitting up to 94 mph. Hartwig, signed as a minor-league free agent in 2021, was the most impressive Mets pitcher on Friday, striking out four over two perfect innings.