Mets’ Sean Manaea extremely sharp, Mark Vientos drives in three as rehab continues in Syracuse

Two of the injured Mets showed some positive signs in Syracuse on Friday afternoon. 

Sean Manaea took the next step in his rehab assignment — making the jump up to Triple-A after putting together three up-and-down outings with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones. 

The southpaw was very sharp this time out — allowing one run on two hits while issuing zero free passes and striking out seven over 5.1 innings in the first game of a double-dip with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. 

The lone run came in on an RBI groundout in his first inning of work, but then he cruised from there — setting down the next 15 hitters he faced, including a stretch of four consecutive strikeouts.

Manaea finished his day with an efficient 62 pitches and 45 strikes to bring his ERA down to 1.69 in four outings.

He’ll likely have one or two more appearances before returning, as, according to Mike Puma of the NY Post, the tentative plan is for the lefty to slot back into the Mets’ rotation during the first week of July.

Mark Vientos also enjoyed a nice day in what was his second appearance with Syracuse. 

The young power hitter struck out and then flew out in each of his first two at-bats, but then stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth and was finally able to do some damage. 

Vientos worked the count to 2-2 before lining a low changeup into the right-center field gap to clear the bases and make it a tie ballgame — he ended up being stranded a batter later when Drew Gilbert lined out. 

He flew out and then grounded out during his final two at-bats, but it was still very encouraging to see him battle and then deliver the big two-out, game-tying hit.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said pregame Friday that the current plan is for Vientos to remain with Syracuse through this weekend, and if all goes well he could potentially be an option as soon as Monday.

Other Notes

– Prior to the game being suspended, top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat was on the hill for Syracuse and he allowed three runs to score on a long Matt Mervis homer during his lone inning of work.

– Power-hitting utility man Luke Ritter has been on fire thus far in June and he also continued that on Friday — picking up three hits, including a solo homer in the bottom of the second.

– Travis Jankowski has gotten off to a bit of a slow start since returning to the organization, but he had his hands all over this one — picking up three knocks of his own, including a grand slam in the seventh.

– Recently signed right-hander Julian Merryweather worked around a leadoff double and two-out walk in the ninth to put the finishing touches on the victory — he now has a pair of scoreless appearances thus far.

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