​Game One: Syracuse 9, Norfolk 3. In the opener of the doubleheader, the Mets sprinted to an early lead in the top of the first and never looked back. Christian Arroyo and Cristian Pache delivered the early separation with an RBI double and an RBI single, respectively. Christopher Morel pushed the advantage to 4-0 in the third with a two-run homer. Norfolk trimmed the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the third, but Syracuse pulled away with a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a throwing error, Ryan Clifford’s RBI single, and Morel’s run-producing double. Zach Thornton tossed two perfect innings before being lifted, a performance that makes him a player to watch in the coming days. Line notes included Nick Morabito going 1-for-2 with three walks and a stolen base (now 28 steals on the year), Arroyo finishing 1-for-3 with a run, a double, and an RBI, Pache going 1-for-5 with a run, an RBI, and a stolen base, Clifford 1-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and three strikeouts, Morel 2-for-3 with a run, a double, a homer, and five RBIs, and Thornton ending with two scoreless innings and five strikeouts. Relief contributions featured Dedniel Núñez allowing two runs in 0.2 innings, Daniel Duarte earning the win with 1.1 scoreless frames and two strikeouts, Ryan Lambert tossing two scoreless innings, and Dylan Ross recording a scoreless inning.
Game Two: Norfolk 3, Syracuse 2. The back half of the doubleheader did not go as smoothly for the Mets. Syracuse jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer by Ryan Clifford. Norfolk answered in the bottom of the first with a run, and the score remained 2-1 until the sixth when Christian Encarnacion-Strand lined a two-run double to put Norfolk in front, 3-2, a lead they would hold through the end. Ji Hwan Bae went 0-for-2 with a run, a walk, and two stolen bases; Morabito went 0-for-2 with a walk; Clifford produced the other run with a home run and two RBIs on the day. On the mound, Ben Simon worked one inning allowing one run, Joe Jacques worked two scoreless innings, Joey Gerber also delivered two scoreless, Matt Turner allowed two runs on three hits in 0.2 innings and took the loss, while Nate Lavender tossed a scoreless 0.1 inning. The combination of late hits by Norfolk and Syracuse’s inability to sustain offense in key moments led to the 3-2 final.
Hartford 13, Binghamton 4. The third game of the slate featured a decisive Hartford victory as Binghamton struggled to keep pace. Hartford exploded for six runs in the second inning, setting the tone for the lopsided afternoon. Binghamton managed four runs on 11 hits but left ten men on base and could not match Hartford’s offensive outburst. Luis Robert Jr. continued his rehab assignment by going 2-for-4, as he edges closer to returning to Queens. Other rehab participants included Nick Roselli (0-for-1, run, K), Jose Ramos (1-for-5, a run, a homer, two RBIs), Nick Lorusso (2-for-4, a run, a homer, an RBI, a walk), JT Schwartz (3-for-5, a run, a double, a strikeout), Kevin Parada (0-for-5), Vincent Perozo (2-for-4, an RBI), and S-P W (a win). This game underscored Hartford’s dominance and the challenges facing Binghamton as they try to keep up.
Notes for SEO: Syracuse 9-3 Norfolk game recap, Norfolk three runs in doubleheader, Morel five RBIs in game, Thornton two perfect innings, rehab updates for Luis Robert Jr., Clifford’s multi-RBI performance, Encarnacion-Strand two-run double, Binghamton vs. Hartford recap, minor league box score highlights, Mets prospects recap, 7-inning box scores notations, player stats and box score summaries.