ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jonah Tong’s first month at Triple-A Syracuse this season hardly went smoothly, but Saturday was something he could appreciate.
The Mets pitching prospect fired a one-hitter over six innings with six strikeouts and two walks against Lehigh Valley.
Tong, who took a no-hitter into the sixth, has pitched to a 4.60 ERA in seven starts this season, but his 44 strikeouts are tied for the most in the minor leagues.
“We need to continue to see that,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Angels, when asked about Tong’s latest performance.
“He’s a guy that is important for this organization, for us, and we will continue to watch him closely. But it was good to see him today putting together another good outing out there.”
Tong, 22, started five games for the Mets last season and pitched to a 7.72 ERA.
Austin Slater and Andy Ibáñez, both of whom joined the Mets within the last week, were the starting corner outfielders against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.
“They have done it throughout their career at this level, so there is a reason why they are here and we will continue to give them chances,” Mendoza said.
Ibáñez was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly before being pinch it for by Carson Benge. Slater went 2-for-3 and scored a run.
Mets officials were encouraged by Christian Scott’s performance Friday, when he rebounded from a shaky performance a week earlier — in his return to the major leagues following Tommy John surgery — and went five innings against the Angels, allowing three earned runs, with eight strikeouts.
Scott walked five batters over 1 ¹/₃ innings in his previous outing.
In Friday’s start he didn’t walk a batter.
Scott surrendered a two-run homer to Jorge Soler in the first inning.
Over the next four the Angels managed just an unearned run against him.
“Not only because of his stuff, but he’s just got a really good head,” Mendoza said. “He doesn’t get too high or low. After the last outing and the first inning [Friday] he goes out and kind of like, ‘Here we go again.’ And he didn’t show any sign. I am not surprised. It just goes to show you he’s a mature kid.”
Jorge Polanco has begun taking batting practice on the field in his rehab from a right wrist contusion that has sidelined him for the last two weeks.
Polanco has also dealt with left Achilles bursitis.
The Mets are now 305-305 all time in interleague play.
