Memphis 10, Las Vegas (29-26) 9
The Las Vegas offense has really struggled during their now 9-game losing streak but they finally did their part on Thursday night spotting Darin Gorski and company a 6-1 lead going into the 2nd inning. The 51’s had a 8-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th with rehabbing Vic Black coming into the game who got rocked. Black managed to get just one while allowing four earned runs on two hits and two walks. Before throwing a pitch Black was assessed a ball for not adhering to the Minor League pitch clock rules. Black gave up a 2-run HR to former Big Leaguer Dan Johnson and was said to be hitting the mid 90’s on the gun. The 51’s were able to take the lead again in the top of the 8th with Wilfredo Tovar knocking in a run in the top if the 8th. However the bullpen struck again with Chase Bradford, Scott Rice, and Jon Velasquez combining to give up two runs to give the Redbirds the 10-9 lead. Gorski started the game going 6 innings giving up four runs on seven hits (another Johnson HR), three walks, and struck out five. Bradford allowed two unearned runs while also allowing two inherited runners score that belonged to Black. The 51’s bullpen inherited 6 runners and let four of them score.
Matt Reynolds extended his modest hitting streak to 4 games going 2-4 with a walk, run scored, and three RBI’s giving him 35 on the year. His .275/.332/.408 line is pretty weak for the PCL but the Mets need some infield depth and he is the best option left right now. Brooks Conrad had just one hit but it was a big one with a grand slam in the 6-run 3rd inning. Here is video of the grand slam. Johnny Monell keeps raking in AAA collecting 3 hits boosting his slash line to .375/.431/.542. T.J. Rivera was 0-1 now going without a hit in his last 30 at bats. Gorski was 1-2 with his 4th double,walk, scored two runs and is now 6-11 on the year. Box Score
Steven Matz (6-3, 1.98) hopes he can help the 51’s snap their 9-game losing streak, they play Memphis at 8:05 ET tonight.
Trenton 2, Binghamton (26-27) 0
The B’Mets offense was completely shutdown by Trenton starter Caleb Smith who combined with the bullpen to throw a two hitter. Michael Conforto was the offense collecting both hits including an opposite field double off a left handed pitcher. His 2nd hit came in the 9th inning with two outs when he hit a fastball down the LF line for a single to try and extend the game but Josh Rodriguez struck out to end it. Conforto is now 6-17 with fives walk, four RBI’s, and three extra base hits in his first 5 AA games. The only other two runners the B’Mets had were Rodriguez and Jared King with a walk. Gavin Cecchini had a rare off night going 0-4 halting his 6-game multi-hit streak and committing his 12th error (another throwing) of the year.
Luis Cessa pitched a gem giving up just a solo homerun to Gary Sanchez in his 7.2 innings of work taking to loss to even his record to 4-4. Cessa allowed four hits, one walk, while he struck out eight hitters and lowered his ERA to 2.81 with the league hitting .264 against him. Adam Kolarek gave up one unearned run in his 0.2 of inning before Paul Sewald relieved him allowing the inherited run to score. Binghamton has now lost 9 of its last 11 games and has dropped below .500 for the first time since all season. Box Score
Binghamton starts a news series after being swept by Trenton, they play tonight at NYSEG stadium at 7:05 vs. Reading with no starter scheduled yet.
Palm Beach 3, St. Lucie (27-27) 2
The Mets lost when Kyle Regnault uncorked a wild pitch with Brett Wiley on 3rd who came across to end the game in ugly fashion. The play before Wiley was on second with one out when a ground ball was hit to SS Amed Rosario who threw to 3rd to try and cut down Wiley. Rosario’s throw looked to be in time but the umpire blew the call giving the Cardinals runners on 1st and third with one out. The loss went to Mike Hepple who gave up a single to Wiley to start the bottom of the 9th. The Mets wasted a great start by John Gant who pitched 8 innings giving up two runs on five hits (HR) while striking out nine.
Dominic Smith had his 16-game hitting streak come to an end with a 0-3 night but he did reach base with a walk in the 7th inning coming around to score later in the inning. Stefan Sabol was 2-3, he is now 9-24 since being brought up from Savannah. Dilson Herrera went 1-3 with two strikeouts and an opposite field 2B off Alex Reyes who was consistently hitting 96/97 with his fastball. Travis d’Arnaud was 1-2 with a four pitch walk and a line drive single to center field. TDA also threw out would be base-stealer Juan Herrera in the bottom of the 1st inning. TDA and Herrera both played 5 innings in the field before they were taken out. FSL leading hitter Jeff McNeil went 1-4 extending his now team leading hitting streak to 11 games. L.J. Mazzilli was 1-4 with his 2nd double and came around to score. Amed Rosario went 1-4 and has cooled off in the beginning of June going just 2-15 to start the month. Box Score
Miller Diaz (3-3, 3.45) is on the hill for St. Lucie tonight as they play the Palm Beach Cardinals at 6:35.
Savannah (27-27) 4, Greenville 2
The Sand Gnats moved their record to .500 for the first time this season after going 14-5 in their last 19 games. The game was tied 0-0 in the bottom of the 4th when Wuilmer Becerra started the 3-run inning with his 14th double on the year. Eudor Garcia, Jon Leroux, Vicente Lupo, and Patrick Biondi each followed with singles with each one producing a run besides Garcia’s. Becerra’s 14 doubles put him 3rd in the South Atlantic League while his .489 slugging ranks him 4th as well. Garcia, Leroux, and Biondi all had three hits on then night for Savannah who had 13 hits including going 6-12 with runners in scoring position. Luis Guillorme was 1-4 with a walk, his 6th stolen base of the year and knocked in an insurance run in the 8th for his 22nd RBI of the year.
Martires Arias got the start but was unable to last long enough to qualify for the win pitching 4 innings giving up just one run on two hits and three walks. Arias struck out seven hitters but needed 98 pitches (63 strikes) including striking out Red Sox uber-prospect Yoan Moncada twice. Ricky Knapp was tremendous in relief going the final 5 innings to pick up his first win of the season. He gave up one unearned run on four hits while striking out five and throwing only 63 pitches in his outing. Box Score
The Sand Gnats look to move over .500 with Scarlyn Reyes (4-4, 3.32) getting the start against Greenville at 7:05.
DSL Mets1 (4-1) 9, DSL Orioles2 6 Box Score
DSL Mets2 (3-2) 5, DSL Yankees2 4 Box Score
News and Notes
The Mets signed veteran minor leaguer Brock Peterson who plays 1B/LF and had a cup of coffee with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 playing 23 games going 2-26. He was released by the Twins last week after batting just .186/.289/.351 so far this season. He is however a .281/.358/.479 for his career at the AAA level. He is going to be assigned to AA Binghamton which would put their roster at 26 meaning they should ship someone to Las Vegas who is down two players.
With the MLB draft coming up rumors are starting to swirl that Savannah starter lefty and 7th round pick last year Brad Wieck is going to be the player to be named later in the deal for Alex Torres. This would be unfortunate as Wieck has excelled in his starting role going 2-5 with a 3.49 ERA while striking out a South Atlantic League leading 64 batters in just 49 innings. He pitched exclusively out of the pen last year for Brooklyn posting a 1.40 ERA and 0.896 WHIP.
The Mets also have to make a quick decision on the status of Daniel Murphy because they are already playing with a short bench. They could send a reliever down like Jack Leathersich without making a hasty decision about Murphy. Matt Reynolds, Wilfredo Tovar, and Alex Castellanos have all been mentioned as possibilities. Reynolds and Castellanos would both have to be added to the 40-man roster with Matt being the hotter bat right now. Tovar’s bat has cooled down but he is an elite defender and has the luxury of being on the 40 already.
