Aug
27
2012

Wheeler Tosses Gem As Bisons Split Doubleheader

An article by Connor O'Brien

Zack Wheeler spun a gem for the Herd in Game 1 of the Sunday doubleheader.

The Bisons played two yesterday in Buffalo. In the first, Zack Wheeler tossed a gem, with the Bisons coming away with a 1-0 win. In the second, it was a sloppy slugfest that the Bisons lost 11-9.

Game 1: Bisons 1, Red Wings 0

Zack Wheeler was on in yesterday’s ballgame. It was certainly a pitching duel. Esmerling Vasquez allowed only one run, so it was up to Wheeler to keep the Red Wings scoreless, which he did. Being a doubleheader, the teams played two seven-inning games. Wheeler pitched the entire game and was absolutely dominating the Rochester lineup. He held them scoreless, allowing only three hits and two walks. He struck out nine and threw 65 of 98 pitches for strikes.

The lone run for Buffalo came in the fourth off Vasquez. With Adam Loewen on third with one out, Matt den Dekker hit a fly ball to right. It was caught, but Loewen tagged up and scored on the play, giving Buffalo a 1-0 lead. That would end up being the only run of the game.

Game 2: Red Wings 11, Bisons 9

The second game was a much different story for both teams. Unlike the first, where each team’s pitcher was dominant, this one was a slugfest. Each team was using their longman as a starter, so the bullpens would be in use pretty quickly. That’s exactly what happened.

The Bisons started Dlan Owen, who didn’t allow a hit but struggled with his control and allowed three runs. However, thanks to some sloppy defense by Rochester, Buffalo still had a 4-3 lead when Owen left the game after an inning and a third. In the bottom of the third, Valentino Pascucci homered to extend the lead to 5-3. From then on, though, it was all Red Wings.

C.J. Nitkowski entered to start the fourth and got rocked. He allowed three runs in that inning and was then sent back out again. In the fifth, he was knocked around again, allowing four more runs. Eventually, Nitkowski was taken out after allowing seven runs on seven hits while recording just four outs. With a big lead, the Bisons couldn’t come back despite two-run homers by Fred Lewis and Zach Lutz.

Herd Rumblings: The good start from Wheeler in the first game was certainly a good sign. He had struggled his previous two starts, allowing eight earned runs in 10.1 total innings. The high points on offense included Matt Tuiasosopo, who was 3-for-7 in the two games, driving in two runs. Valentino Pascucci was in the middle of everything, scoring three runs and hitting a home run. Zach Lutz also had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. The Bisons take on the Red Wings again tonight at 7:05. The game will be televised on SNY.

About the Author: Connor O'Brien

I am a very young, but passionate Mets fan who has blogged about the Mets for three years. I hope you all enjoy the unique perspective that a fan like me can bring to the table. More about me... favorite Met- Johan Santana... favorite food- Citi Field burgers and hot dogs!... favorite musician- Mos Def... favorite Mets moment- the no-hitter of course, but I also attended Game 1 of the 2006 NLDS as well as Johan's three-hit shutout in late September 2008. Follow me on Twitter @UpAlongFirst

7 Comments + Add Comment

stick August 27, 2012 at 8:45 am

that was a nice outing. Wheeler is certainly close to being ready. Hopefully he has a few more gems like this before getting shut down for the year (innings).

Then come out strong to start next season, and by the ASB be up in the rotation to stay. If everything goes according to plan.

Guy certainly has the stuff.
Mr North Jersey August 27, 2012 at 11:59 am

There is a quote from Wheeler after yesterday’s game where he talked about some of his past struggles. He said,

“I’ve been trying new stuff mechanically and it’s been messing me up,” Wheeler admitted. “Those things with the hitches in my windup were in the back of my mind, like keeping my shoulders balanced and keeping the weight on my back leg instead of rushing out. I had to pitch like I knew how.

“There was so much stuff going on in my head. But tonight I wasn’t going out there trying to do something different every inning. I was nice and fluid in my motion.”
- Even Flow August 27, 2012 at 1:09 pm
  
  It sounds exactly like what he was doing last year that was messing him up. I don’t understand: If something’s going good for you, why change it up? Keep going with that nice and fluid motion that made you damn good in the beginning.
  - TRS86 August 27, 2012 at 1:55 pm
    
    That’s almost impossible for an athlete though. You are constantly not only wanting to improve but make adjustments to the opponent and through that even one little thing can throw off multiple things. It sounds easy to say “shoot it like that every time” but it really is rare that an athlete learns to do that.
    - stick August 27, 2012 at 2:16 pm
      
      a MLB team does have a whole bunch of coaches and trainers to evaluate mechanics.
      
      so sometimes, there is a valid reason to try and change a guy (not saying this is one, but that it is true) to avoid future breakdowns/injuries.
      
      so, smoe guys adjust, some don’t. and it is not always about effectiveness right now.
MetsJets13 August 27, 2012 at 10:21 pm

Hey I never saw those black Bisons jerseys before, are they throwbacks?
Joey D. August 27, 2012 at 10:36 pm

I too was wondering why the Mets had Wheeler experiment with his mechanics for such a prolonged period of time if they weren’t producing positive results compared to his last outing, when he said he went back to not trying to do something different (every inning, however?).
Would such meddling with one’s natural motion have adverse effects in his development if he’s demonstrating it is just not right for him?

Or is it that the coaches see something in his mechanics that still needs to be changed in order to make it in the majors?

Not a statement but a thought.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	24	18	.571	-
Nationals	23	20	.535	1.5
Phillies	20	23	.465	4.5
Mets	16	24	.400	7.0
Marlins	11	32	.256	13.5

Last updated: 05/18/2013

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