New York Mets Minor League Report: The Clay Holmes Showcase Begins

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On Thursday, the New York Mets got their first look at Clay Holmes in a game setting since the right-hander went down with a leg fracture 2 1/2 months ago. So did all the clubs who are interested in trading for him.

Holmes started for Triple-A Syracuse against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The final line was uninspiring: 2 1/3 innings, three hits, two runs (both earned), two walks and two strikeouts. As might be expected, his command was subpar: just 28 of his 51 pitches were for strikes.

He was strong in the first inning, getting a grounder to the mound and two strikeouts, including one of Spencer Jones, who broke Holmes' fibula with a comebacker on May 15. In the second, he allowed a double, a walk, and two well-hit fly balls as Scranton scored its first run. In the third, he gave up a leadoff walk, a hard-hit single, and a RBI bloop single by Jones. After another well-struck fly was caught for an out, Holmes departed, having reached his pitch limit.

Holmes is a prime acquisition target ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. He was supposed to begin his rehab with a start for High-A Brooklyn on July 18, but the game was rained out. He got his work in with a bullpen session. Interested clubs will have to evaluate him on just two rehab starts -- Thursday's game and a game next week. New York interim manager Andy Green told reporters (per MLB.com) that if Holmes came out of Thursday's outing feeling good, he might need just a second rehab start before being activated off the 60-day injured list.

Elsewhere in the organization:

Binghamton lost to Portland 3-2. Corey Collins' pinch-hit, two-run home run in the ninth got the Rumble Ponies close. Binghamton batters struck out 18 times in the game.

Brooklyn lost to Jersey Shore 6-5 in 12 innings, spoiling a big game at the plate by Trace Willhoite (home run, three hits, two RBIs, stolen base). Cyclones batters struck out 18 times as well.

St. Lucie split a doubleheader with Fort Myers, winning the opener 1-0 and losing the nightcap 3-1. Marco Vargas drove in the only run in Game 1.

The FCL Mets got home runs from Yorber Semprun and Heriberto Rincon in an 11-3 loss to the FCL Cardinals. DSL Mets Blue lost a 14-6 slugfest to the DSL Rangers. Starter Christopher Rochin allowed one earned run over four innings. Michalle Mercedes popped a three-run homer. DSL Mets Orange rolled to a 9-2 win over DSL Giants Orange. Ryan Rudas, Cleiner Ramirez and Cesar Acosta went deep.

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Syracuse Bats Silenced In Shutout Loss

The Mets were held to three hits, all singles, and struck out 11 times in losing 2-0. Ronny Mauricio, Christopher Morel and Eric Wagaman had the hits. Mauricio also notched a stolen base. Syracuse did not get a runner past second base after the fifth inning.

Tobias Myers was effective in relief of Holmes. He struck out six over 2 2/3 innings while allowing two hits and a walk.

Player	AB	H	BB	K
Nick Morabito, CF	3	0	0	2
MJ Melendez, LF	4	0	0	3
Ronny Mauricio, DH	4	1	0	0
Christopher Morel, 1B	4	1	0	2
Ryan Clifford, RF	3	0	1	0
Eric Wagaman, 3B	3	1	0	1
Christian Arroyo, 2B	3	0	0	1
Hayden Senger, C	3	0	0	2
Zack Short, SS	3	0	0	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Clay Holmes (L)	2 1/3	3	2	2	2	2
Tobias Myers	2 2/3	2	0	0	1	6
Ben Simon	1	0	0	0	0	0
Jefry Yan	2/3	0	0	0	2	1
Matt Seelinger	1 1/3	0	0	0	1	3

Collins' Homer Only Offense For Binghamton

Collins came off the bench to pop his first home run of the season. JT Schwartz scored ahead of Collins after delivering a one-out single.

R.J. Gordon started and took the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over five innings. Relievers Justin Armbruester and Gabriel Rodriguez kept the Rumble Ponies in the game, but Zach Peek allowed a run in the ninth that proved to be decisive.

Other than Schwartz, who had three hits, Rumble Ponies batters were overmatched in this one. Everyone in the lineup struck out at least once. Leadoff man Chris Suero drew the team's only walk.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Chris Suero, DH	3	0	0	0	1	3
John Bay, CF	4	0	1	0	0	1
Nick Lorusso, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	1
Kevin Parada, C	4	0	0	0	0	3
JT Schwartz, 1B	4	1	3	0	0	1
Matt Rudick, RF	4	0	1	0	0	2
Vincent Perozo, LF	3	0	0	0	0	2
Corey Collins, PH	1	1	1	2	0	0
Jaylen Palmer, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	3
Jose Ramos, PH	1	0	0	0	0	1
Wyatt Young, SS	3	0	0	0	0	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
R.J. Gordon (L)	5	4	2	1	4	7	1
Justin Armbruester	2	0	0	0	0	1	0
Gabriel Rodriguez	1	0	0	0	1	1	0
Zach Peek	1	2	1	1	0	0	0

Willhoite's Big Night Wasted As Brooklyn Drops Marathon

The Cyclones led going into the bottom of the ninth and 11th before falling in the 12th.

Brooklyn appeared in control after Yonatan Henriquez tripled home Willhoite in the ninth for a 4-2 lead, but Juan Arnaud walked three in the bottom of the ninth, and Willhoite's throwing error on a fielder's choice grounder brought home two runs to tie the game.

In the 11th, Willhoite singled home ghost runner Colin Houck for a 5-4 lead, but Gregori Louis allowed an RBI double in the bottom half. In the 12th, Louis surrendered a bases-loaded single to end it.

Nicolas Carreno delivered a quality start, allowing one run on three hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out six.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Yonatan Henriquez, CF	5	0	2	1	1	0
Mitch Voit, 2B	5	0	0	0	1	2
Ronald Hernandez, C	4	0	0	0	1	1
Daiverson Gutierrez, DH	5	0	0	0	0	2
Jamari Baylor, 3B	3	0	0	0	2	2
Colin Houck, SS	5	1	0	0	0	4
Trace Willhoite, 1B	4	3	3	2	1	1
Yohairo Cuevas, RF	5	0	0	0	0	4
Kevin Villavicencio, LF	5	1	1	1	0	2

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Nicolas Carreno	6	3	1	1	1	6
Luis R. Rodriguez	2/3	0	1	0	3	2
Bryce Jenkins	1 1/3	0	0	0	0	2
Juan Arnaud	1	0	2	1	3	3
Rafi Vazquez	1	0	0	0	1	2
Gregori Louis (L)	1 2/3	2	2	0	3	1

St. Lucie Trio Fires Blanks In Game 1

Joel Lara, Omar Victorino and Zack Mack combined on a seven-inning, two-hit shutout as St. Lucie took the opener.

Lara worked around five walks to put up 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out four. Victorino followed with 2 1/3 hitless innings, walking two and striking out two. Mack pitched around a hit and two walks in the seventh to record the save.

The game's only run came in the third inning. Jeremy Rodriguez singled to center, moved to second on a Jack Scanlon groundout, and took third on a fly out by Antonio Jimenez. Marco Vargas then lined a single to right to bring in Rodriguez.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Antonio Jimenez, 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0
Marco Vargas, SS	2	0	1	1	1	1
D'Andre Smith, CF	3	0	1	0	0	2
Randy Guzman, LF	3	0	1	0	0	1
Julio Zayas, DH	3	0	0	0	0	0
Simon Juan, RF	3	0	2	0	0	0
Francisco Toledo, C	3	0	1	0	0	0
Jeremy Rodriguez, 2B	2	1	1	0	0	0
Jack Scanlon, 1B	2	0	0	0	0	1

Player	IP	H	BB	K
Joel Lara	3 2/3	1	5	4
Omar Victorino (W)	2 1/3	0	2	2
Zack Mack (S)	1	1	2	1

Early Deficit Sinks St. Lucie In Game 2

St. Lucie fell behind 3-0 after two innings and could not mount a rally in this seven-inning contest.

Joel Díaz started and took the loss, allowing all three runs over 2 2/3 innings. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out two. Fort Myers scored on a double play in the second and a two-run double in the third.

The bullpen kept St. Lucie in the game. Elwis Mijares allowed one hit and struck out three over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Joe Scarborough added a scoreless frame.

The Mets finally broke through in the seventh. Taylor Darden led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Hauge to make it 3-1.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	K
Elian Pena, SS	4	0	0	0	2
Trey Snyder, CF	3	0	1	0	0
Randy Guzman, DH	3	0	0	0	1
Julio Zayas, C	3	0	0	0	1
Branny De Oleo, 2B	3	0	0	0	3
Chase Meggers, 1B	3	0	2	0	0
Simon Juan, RF	3	0	0	0	1
Taylor Darden, 3B	3	1	2	0	0
Jackson Hauge, LF	2	0	0	1	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Joel Díaz (L)	2 2/3	4	3	3	2	2
Elwis Mijares	2 1/3	1	0	0	0	3
Joe Scarborough	1	0	0	0	0	1

Top-20 Prospect Performance

Jonah Tong: DNP
Jack Wenninger: DNP
Ryan Clifford: 0-for-3, BB
Elian Pena: 0-for-4, 2 K
Nick Morabito: 0-for-3, 2 K
Jacob Reimer: DNP
Mitch Voit: 0-for-5, BB, 2 K
Jonathan Santucci: DNP
Zac Thornton: MLB
Chris Suero: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
Will Watson: DNP
Wandy Asigen: 2-for-3, R, BB, K
Eli Serrano III: DNP
Randy Guzman: 1-for-3, K (Game 1); 0-for-3, K (Game 2)
Dylan Ross: DNP
Ryan Lambert: DNP
Antonio Jimenez: 1-for-3
R.J. Gordon: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
Jonathan Pintaro: DNP
Marco Vargas: 1-for-2, RBI, BB, K

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