Mets-Phils rivalry gets heated -- in Triple-A?

Triple-A Syracuse fumes at perceived trolling from rival

May 1st, 2019

The Mets-Phillies rivalry? It's more than reignited. Even the teams' Minor League affiliates are getting in on the action.

The Syracuse Mets and Lehigh Valley IronPigs, New York and Philadelphia's Triple-A teams, played for the first time this season on Monday. In the sixth inning, the IronPigs cued up the video of ' 34.2-second home run trot against the Mets last Wednesday on the scoreboard -- with , the pitcher who served up the homer, on the mound.

Rhame was at the center of the Mets-Phillies brouhaha when he threw behind Hoskins' head last Tuesday, only to have Hoskins crush the home run off him the next night and take his sweet time rounding the bases. The right-hander was optioned to Triple-A on Friday to make room for coming off the injured list, setting the stage for Monday's incident.

As reported by Syracuse.com, Syracuse was not happy with Lehigh Valley playing the video of Hoskins' home run trot as Rhame warmed up.

Manager Tony DeFrancesco told off IronPigs general manager Kurt Landes, who was unaware that video was going to be played and apologized. And after the game -- which the Mets rallied to win -- outfielder told Syracuse.com that, "They didn’t respect [us]. Not only the pitcher, they don’t respect us as a team."

Gomez added, "They should not have played that video. We’re all professionals here. It’s good we beat them, so they can feel [us]."

Syracuse went on to beat the IronPigs again on Tuesday, 18-5.

The Mets and Phillies don't play again until June, when the Mets head to Philadelphia for four games at Citizens Bank Park from June 24-27.