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Mets prospect Luisangel Acuña continues to improve with the team’s Triple-A affiliate.
On Saturday night, Acuña got the Syracuse Mets off on the right foot with a leadoff home run. The 22-year-old took right-hander Mike Mayers deep on the first pitch, launching a 91 mph fastball over the left-field wall 418 feet.
Saturday’s home run was Acuña’s fifth big blast of the minor league season.
His leadoff blast was the only hit Acuña would have against the Buffalo Bisons — he finished 1-for-5 with a strikeout — he’s been on a tear with Syracuse of late.
Over his last five games, including Saturday, Acuña is hitting 6-for-23 with the lone home run. The leadoff hitter is scorching in June, slashing .305/.359/.400 so far.
Unfortunately for Syracuse, the lead Acuña provided would not hold up. Up 2-0 in the seventh, thanks to a Carlos Cortes solo homer in the fourth, Buffalo would pull ahead after a three-run shot from Gabriel Cancel.
Two of the runs were charged to starter Joey Lucchesi, who pitched 6.1 innings (93 pitches/62 strikes), giving up two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out eight batters.
Syracuse would retake the lead in the eighth inning after Pablo Reyes‘ two-run shot that gave the Mets a 4-3 lead.
Max Kranick, who has had a cup of coffee with the Mets in the bigs, blew the save by allowing a solo shot in the ninth. The Mets would strike back in the 19th with four runs, capped off by a Cortes three-run shot to help Syracuse win 8-5.
Brett Baty, who has flourished since being demoted to Syracuse, went 0-for-5 on the evening. The infielder, who was DHing on Saturday, is still hitting .333 with eight home runs and 21 RBI.