BUFFALO, NY — Francisco Alvarez and Jose Siri are one step closer to coming off the injured list and rejoining the big club for a September playoff push. For the second consecutive game Alvarez (right thumb UCL sprain, left pinky fracture) and Siri (left tibia fracture) were in the lineup as the Syracuse Mets walloped the Buffalo Bisons 10-2 on Wednesday night at Sahlen Field.
For the second time in consecutive days, Jose Siri led the game off with a single up the middle. In the top of the third inning with runners on first and third and no outs, Siri reached for a curveball out of the zone, grounded it to shortstop and beat out a 6-4-3 double play attempt, crediting him with an RBI as Yonny Hernandez scored.
While at second base this inning, Siri seemed to be getting in the head of Bison’s pitcher CJ Van Eyk, bouncing off of the bag and taking big leads. Following an Alvarez walk, Siri scored standing from third base on a sharp 105.7 mph sacrifice fly from Ryan Clifford. He also recorded an RBI in the fourth inning on a slow ground out to the first baseman.
With Syracuse up by six and Siri having four at bats, he was replaced by outfielder Gilberto Celestino in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Francisco Alvarez looks like he’s ready for MLB action. Alvarez went 1-4 with a walk at the plate, blasting an 0-2 fastball over the wall in left-center for a grand slam in the 4th inning. The Mets’ catcher also looked comfortable behind the plate, catching a full nine innings for the second straight day.
He’s been looking like typical Francisco Alvarez, a player that the Mets have trusted with commanding a pitching staff while having competitive at bats offensively.
The Mets will most likely see how he recovers on Thursday before making a decision on what happens next. However, the fact that he caught 18 innings in two days – and also did damage at the plate – is a promising sign.
Other notes:
Richard Lovelady took the mound as the opener for Wednesday’s game. He was able to work around loading the bases in the first inning by making a nifty play on a slow ground ball down the third base line, picking it up with his bare hand and firing it over to first base where Ryan Clifford dug it out of the dirt for the final out.
Lovelady recorded a 1-2-3 inning, striking out one hitter thanks to an elite frame by Alvarez on a pitch that was a good amount outside of the strike zone.
Mets #2 prospect Jett Williams showcased plenty of his offensive skills in Wednesday’s game. Watching this kid play is fascinating, as he’s so fast and his legs move so quick it almost looks like he’s levitating around the bases. He also provides versatility – playing shortstop, second base and center field.
Williams went 2-4 on the day, lining a base hit up the middle his second at bat and smacking a two-run home run to over the centerfield wall in the eighth inning.
Catcher Kevin Parada, 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft, made his Triple-A debut, going 1-4 with a walk, a stolen base and one run scored as the designated hitter.
